Celtic: We'll wait for O'Neill decision

Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod insists the club are prepared to wait for a decision from Martin O’Neill on his future.

The Parkhead boss is still considering his future with his current contract due to end in the summer.

O’Neill has led the Hoops to two successive Premier League titles and the domestic treble in his first year in charge since taking over in 2000.

But the ex-Leicester City boss is still mulling over his future after talks with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond in Barbados this week.

McLeod is adamant that the Celtic hierarchy will wait as long as possible to convince the most successful Hoops manager since Jock Stein to stay in Glasgow.

McLeod said: “The matter won’t be resolved in Barbados and clearly the talks will continue until a conclusion is reached.

“We respect the terrific job Martin has done.

“We are very happy with his performance and want that to continue. Our focus is on trying to bring that about.

“We haven’t set ourselves any deadlines. From a planning point of view, it would be better to resolve matters earlier rather than later. But it doesn’t put us under undue pressure.

“Generally, when managers change it happens quite quickly but clubs still continue to function.

“It is not something we are unduly concerned about although we would like to have the matter resolved.”

Former Rangers boss Walter Smith has told O’Neill to make his mind up for the sake of the Parkhead fans.

The ex-Everton boss announced his decision to quit the Light Blues at the end of the season in the autumn of 1997.

Now Smith believes the Parkhead boss should make a similar early decision.

Smith told Scotland on Sunday: “Football managers are no different from players.

“If you’re not going to sign a contract to lengthen your stay with a club, then you should clarify that as soon as you possibly can.

“Whether it be a player or a manager, supporters like to be given a clear commitment.

“I think Martin should make up his mind. It’s best for everybody to know.”

Smith added: “Martin maybe wants assurances about the financial structure of the club. That will be as important to him as anything else.

“Having worked in England, there may be an allure to go back there. It’s obviously proving to be a difficult decision.

“But if a player has to make up his mind three or six months before his contract expires, you should be looking for a manager to come out and do the same.”