MARTIN O’NEILL will be tasked with trying to claw back Celtic’s deficit to Hearts in the title race.
But just hours before he was revealed as the caretaker boss who will step in to replace Brendan Rodgers, he claimed it would be GOOD for the Jambos to actually win the league!
Rodgers quit Celtic barely 24 hours after his Hoops side lost to Hearts in a shock move that has left Scottish football stunned.
Parkhead supremo Dermot Desmond has publicly filleted the outgoing manager in the wake of the announcement, describing him as “misleading, divisive and self-serving” in an extraordinary statement.
Hoops chiefs have turned to former boss O’Neill and one of his ex-players in Shaun Maloney in the meantime, with a Premiership fixture against Falkirk to come on Wednesday and the small matter of an Old Firm semi-final in the Premier Sports Cup on the horizon this weekend.
O’Neill, 73, was a guest on Jim White and Simon Jordan’s talkSPORT radio show this morning and after watching Derek McInnes‘ men win 3-1 at Tynecastle, he admitted they could go from strength to strength after the victory.
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He said: “Celtic can actually lose games, whereas before, they looked invincible in matches.
“Rangers are no threat whatsoever. They are so far adrift it’s untrue.
“But this is the moment. This is the time for Hearts.
“They have gone eight points clear, that is a decent enough lead, really. Their confidence has grown, and it will grow from that victory.
O’Neill then conceded that he agreed with Rangers legend Ally McCoist regarding Hearts doing the unthinkable this season.
He continued: “I actually think Ally McCoist summed it up really well, that for Scottish football, Hearts winning it would be amazing.
“Paradoxically, if Rangers or Celtic weren’t to win it then you’d ask yourself where is Scottish football going.
“But it is interesting.”
He then added: “It absolutely would [be good for Scottish football].
“It would reinvigorate the Scottish Premiership.”
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