O’Neill’s wife improving

MARTIN O’NEILL’S position as frontrunner to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson has been enhanced still further by “better news” about his ill wife.

O’Neill left Celtic last season to look after his wife Geraldine, who is being treated for cancer, but it now appears her health may have improved.

The latest news emerged from Celtic chairman Brian Quinn, who said: “I believe there has been somewhat better news in recent times on his wife’s health. I think he (O’Neill) is certainly a very strong candidate.

“He’s comfortable in dealing with the press. He takes a close interest in what the press says and I know if he were a candidate and being considered for the job he would think quite hard about that aspect of it because I think outside of Glasgow the England manager is pretty much top of the pile.