O’Neill tips Celtic for Scottish title

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill believes that Celtic will take back the Scottish League title from bitter rivals Rangers this coming season.

The former Celtic boss won three League titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup in a glittering managerial career in Glasgow.

Asked if his former club could win the league next time around, the Derry man left the assembled media in no doubt.

“I do, I genuinely do,” he said. “Obviously I hope that would be the case.”

Rangers cruised to the Scottish title last season, winning by six points after a stop-start season from Celtic.

O’Neill pointed to Rangers’ recent player sales as evidence that the Gers may struggle to retain their title however.

“At this moment, it’s auguring well because Rangers are selling players,” said O’Neill. “I saw Walter Smith saying that he has a slight concern that they are letting players go and not getting anybody in.”

With new manager and Celtic veteran Neil Lennon about to embark on his first full season, O’Neill has every confidence in the player he once managed.

Saying that the Glasgow club have been “reinvigorated” under Lennon, O’Neill says the former Northern Ireland midfielder now has all the tools to be a success at Celtic Park.

“Neil’s got the backroom squad that he’s asked for,” said the Aston Villa manager. “There’s no reason for them not to go and take it.”