O'Neill's Celtic future still in doubt

MARTIN O'NEILL has cast further doubt over his future as manager of Celtic.

But the Hoops boss insists he will not be leaving Celtic for another club this summer.

There are suggestions he could be taking some time out to spend more time with his sick wife Geraldine next season.

But yesterday he assured fans he would not be resigning to move to pastures new.

O'Neill said: "These five years have been pretty decent and there's as good a chance of me being here than not.

"But if you are asking if I will be leaving to go to another football club then the answer would be no."

If Celtic beat Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow O'Neill will win his fourth Scottish Premier League title in five years and he was quick to point out: "I am the longest serving manager in the SPL by a fair distance."

He also hinted that he was ready for the long haul having spoken about a "new beginning" this summer as he expects the board to give him millions to splash on new signings.

O'Neill has been frustrated at not having the squad to make it through to the latter stages of the Champions League but he believes that it is now necessary to make big changes.

He said: "It's a new beginning and that's the really exciting part.

"This team are very, very close to seeing it through with silverware this season but they need help more than ever before and I think that will be forthcoming in the summer.

"It is essentially the same side or the main group of players that have done wonderfully well for five years.

"They've been doing the job but at this time it's necessary that the really good players get some help."

On-loan striker Craig Bellamy is at the top of his shopping list and O'Neill insists talk of Aston Villa agreeing a fee with Newcastle to sign him this summer will not affect him or necessarily his final decision.

He continued: "Craig Bellamy will make up his own mind about what he wants to do and whatever he does we will abide by.

"If he shows he wants to play with Celtic in the SPL we should do everything possible to do that.

"He has become a big hero and he has earned that with his performances."

O'Neill also feels the painful memory of losing the championship to Rangers on the final day of the SPL season two seasons ago will spur his men on to avoid a repeat.

The Ibrox men travel to Hibernian needing a win and hoping Motherwell shock Celtic, but the Hoops know what is at stake - with O'Neill declaring that second is nothing.