SPL: O'Neill plays down United talk

Martin O'Neill has categorically denied he wants to become the next manager of Manchester United by insisting the only way he would quit Celtic would be if he was sacked.

The Hoops manager watched his side open up a 13-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League - with two late goals sinking Motherwell at Parkhead.

But after the match he was more concerned with the reaction to his comments on Tuesday that he would not "dread" an approach from Manchester United to replace Sir Alex Ferguson.

He reckons his words were blown out of proportion and stated he was happy to see out the remainder of his contract in Glasgow which expires in the summer of 2003.

O'Neill said: "Let me tell you that I haven't seen the headlines. But I was asked an innocent question about my contract which shouldn't have been a problem.

"There's nothing too much to read into it, in fact I have never gone out of my way to link myself with Manchester United.

"I thought I had made that clear when the paper said I had secret talks.

"I will say it again and I promise you that I'll never say it again, but my contract here runs to the end of next season and if I leave beforehand it will be because the board has sacked me.

"That's the end of the story. I never want to talk about a contract again - so that's my New Year's resolution."

In a bizarre twist O'Neill definitely ruled himself out of the running for the lucrative Old Trafford post.

He added: "Manchester United is of no consequence to me and it is almost embarrassing.

"Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager in the modern era and he is still managing and he might want to stay for the next 30 years."

Celtic again showed some New Year's resolution with late goals from Henrik Larsson and John Hartson - and O'Neill can also see the finish to the title race in sight.

He said: "We're 13 points ahead on level games and we know that if we win 12 out of 16 games then we have won the championship - this was a massive win for us."