Celtic boss blasts Man City job links

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill today played down speculation linking him with the Manchester City job in order to keep his own players in pole position in the championship race.

Just days after Celtic took the initiative in the title race after a Rangers slip, there were suggestions that O’Neill was on the move.

But with so many big games coming up, he was in no mood to give City any encouragement should they want him to take over from Kevin Keegan.

“Why are you asking this question at this stage of the season when you know we have some important games coming up?” asked O’Neill.

“For five years now I have been asked the same question about jobs, whether it be in England or Timbuktu. But I am the longest serving manager in the SPL by a mile.”

Speculation about the future of the manager can unsettle a dressing room but O’Neill has no concerns about it knocking his own players off course.

He joked: “There was more concern when Everton were said to have made a bid for Stilian Petrov.

“Most of the players would welcome me moving and going somewhere else.”

Celtic took great confidence from Rangers’ unexpected draw to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox last week, winning comfortably at Hibernian to move just four points behind their rivals with two matches in hand.

It is a huge week for The Hoops with games against Dunfermline today, Inverness in midweek and Dundee United next week, while Rangers just have the one SPL game at Dundee.

Celtic could be ahead in the Premier League table by next Saturday but O’Neill is still expecting points to be dropped in a nail-biting race for the title.

“It is a big week, with three games, and a very difficult week. We have to try and win at home tomorrow without thinking about anything else.

“I said a couple of weeks ago when we had 13 games left that we may have to win 13 matches.

“We have won two and we are now down to 11 and it may work out that we may have to win 10 out of 11 or maybe more.

Celtic will be confident of beating Dunfermline at Parkhead, especially with on-loan Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy in top form with two goals in four matches.

The temperamental star produced his best display yet at Easter Road but still hit the headlines for the wrong reasons for refusing to shake Gary Caldwell’s hand.

Bellamy was also on the back pages a week earlier having been accused of bragging about his wages at Clyde.

But while O’Neill expects “cheeky” players to spark a reaction, he sees no reason to pull Bellamy aside for a chat about his conduct until he does something serious.

O’Neill, meanwhile, revealed that more talks are planned with midfielder Neil Lennon and his agent but he is pleased with how this week’s contract discussions transpired.

“I thought they went very well. We have some more scheduled soon.”