MARTIN O’NEILL admits he’s open to talks with Dermot Desmond about staying on as Celtic boss.
O’Neill, 73, led the Hoops to the Premier Sports Cup final with an Old Firm derby victory against Rangers at Hampden.
Celts now face St Mirren in the final on Sunday December 14.
And the club’s caretaker boss says he’d gladly hold discussions with Desmond over his future.
O’Neill said: “The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do.
“But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.
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“When I saw the games they had and then the international break, I thought they’ll have a couple of weeks to think about it.
“I haven’t even spoken to him since that. In a perverse sort of way I’ve enjoyed the two games – but not a lot!
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have won the game, absolutely delighted.
“It was a really strange feeling to be in the Hampden dressing room, really strange, but it was nice to win.
“If it had been the other way around it would have been a real sickener.
“But I have had no indication, genuinely no indication whatsoever at this minute. None at all.
“And I would have thought that with Midtjylland now on Thursday night, and then Kilmarnock on the Sunday, I would have thought there’s probably time for them, with an international break, for the board to think about something.”
Asked if he’d like to lead the team out against the Buddies in the final next month, O’Neill added: “Well, secretly you would love to, you know.
“Look, we’re in the results business and all of these things can change.
“I was actually at Midtjylland’s game against Nottingham Forest, where they were just too strong for them, really, and that was at the City Ground.
“And then we’ve got the Kilmarnock game on the Sunday.
“So, honestly, these games, it’s all about results and that will determine whether the board might think about taking their time.
“If we’d got beaten today, I might not even have seen Thursday.”
O’Neill admits he was mainly RELIEVED to beat ten-man Rangers and win through after extra-time.
He added: “I know I have a bit of a joke about how I’m not sure if I have ever enjoyed management and that would be the same today.
“Your heart is pumping away, you’re trying to get the result.
“But honestly, it is a privilege to come back, even if it is for a couple of games.
“And yes, it was a really strange feeling to be back at Hampden having been at many semi-finals and finals before.
“But I am delighted to win. It was relief from that viewpoint as well.
“But I thought that we played really well and got the goal, had a goal disallowed, but played really, really well.
“Then Rangers had a man sent off and just after half time I thought they took control of the game.
“They had a really good spell for 10,15 minutes, we lost our way a bit and then they get the penalty to take it to extra time and obviously Callum McGregor comes up with a great goal.
“He is just a great player. I have been saying this for a couple of days, and obviously his performance when I had the team on Wednesday evening was terrific.
“I have watched Celtic intermittently and you think, ‘yeah he is a really good player’.
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“It is only when you get into the job itself that you realise how really good he is.
“Good captain as well, vociferous in the dressing room, which is great, and can play – can really play. My expectation of him is so high.”
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