O'Neill unhappy over fixture congestion

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has taken a swipe at the game’s authorities for loading them with a hectic fixture schedule before their Champions League Group A showdown with Lyon.

The French side have been given as much help as possible from their national association and competition organisers ahead of Wednesday’s crucial game.

But Celtic have to play Partick twice and Livingston once in the space of a week before they travel to Lyon in search of a point that will put them into the knockout stages.

Tonight’s CIS Insurance Cup game with the Jags was originally scheduled for earlier in the season but was moved to this new date because of television commitments.

“Maybe you would have to ask the organisers of the competition about this,” said O’Neill.

“The game, for whatever reason, was postponed but it wasn’t for the sake of the clubs.

“It was because of Channel Five. It’s great Channel Five have taken an interest in the competition and I’m delighted.

“But all that (moving the game) did was postpone the problem. The only way they could schedule it was for the next round.

“The Livingston game was supposed to be on the Sunday and now it’s been changed and I was grateful for that. But you want as much time as possible to prepare for the Lyon game.

“I thought governing bodies could get together to give the teams representing Scotland in the respective competitions the best opportunity – that was all.

“You had a situation in France where Lyon’s game with Bordeaux in midweek was postponed and they brought their other game forward to the Friday night.

“That’s giving the team every opportunity because they see the importance. We might never get into this position again and that’s disappointing.

“I think in the future, people should have a little look at it. It’s gone and now we have the games coming up.

“Livingston were prepared to change it but I stayed with the Saturday to give ourselves an extra day. Whether that’s a good decision or bad decision I’ve no idea.”

To combat the problem he will field some of his youngsters against Partick tonight – but he admits that they cannot be guaranteed to rise to the occasion now.

O’Neill added: “You wouldn’t win as many games as you are expected to win but once these boys get the taste of it and stand on their own two feet then that’s a different matter.

“I am expecting and hoping that these boys will be the future of the football club and they’ve all shown in little bits that they are capable of doing that.

“When some of the senior players, for one reason or another, end up leaving the club I’m hoping these boys can take over.

“But the concern is that you play a group of young lads and two or three boys coming back from injury and the pace of the game is too much for them.”