Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has firmly denied seeking any transfer assurances from club owner Dermot Desmond before agreeing to return as manager this summer.
O’Neill guided the Hoops to a memorable Double last season and subsequently signed on for at least one more year at Parkhead.
Despite expectations of a sweeping squad overhaul, £6million striker Camilo Duran remains the club’s only summer signing with flag day less than three weeks away.
O’Neill made clear he placed no conditions on the club during contract negotiations, saying: “No, I didn’t. I didn’t put anything at all. I just hope that we can do some business at the end of it all. But no, I didn’t put any assurances.”
He elaborated further, adding: “I can’t turn around and say, ‘By the way, you need to get me 12 players, and if you only get 10, then you’ve broken the trust or something.’ No, not necessarily.”
O’Neill expressed confidence in the club’s owner, noting a long-standing relationship that gives him faith deals will be completed when it matters most.
He said: “Maybe it’s the fact that I know the owner of the football club for some time and I genuinely believe that he will come up and help when trying to get things over the line, let me put it that way.”
Despite growing frustration among supporters and title rivals Rangers and Hearts actively strengthening their squads, O’Neill insists he remains calm about the slow transfer activity.
He told reporters: “We are making some sort of progress on that, as we have been for a while. It just takes a wee bit of time. Obviously, agreeing terms with the football club, agreeing terms with the players.”
O’Neill praised his recruitment team for their relentless efforts behind the scenes, saying: “On the recruitment side, honestly, they’re working day and night. I’m in constant talks with them every single day. Genuinely, I’m really pleased with what they’re doing. So, no, I’m not perturbed at this minute.”
Celtic have yet to name a permanent replacement for Paul Tisdale, the transfer chief who was removed from his position back in January following a disappointing stint in the role.
South American scout Mark Cooper has been leading scouting operations in the interim, with O’Neill confirming that assistant Shaun Maloney is no longer actively involved in talent identification.
O’Neill said of the head of recruitment search: “They’re looking at that at this minute. Obviously, there’s a process. They want to do that, but it’s not at the top of the list at this minute.”
He spoke warmly of Cooper’s contribution, saying: “He’s identified players over the last 10 or 12 years for us. Some really fine players. Considering he was in South America, he identified young players even before they made the grade.”
When asked whether the appointment could be pushed back to the January window, O’Neill replied: “It might be. I think Mark’s filling that type of role, head scout, whatever you call it, pretty well.”
O’Neill has monitored World Cup performances closely but said he is generally reluctant to sign players directly off the back of tournament football.
He explained: “Generally speaking, I wouldn’t want to take somebody from the World Cup because you’re seeing a different player to the one that plays normal league games, either good or bad.”
He did, however, reference a notable exception, recalling: “I did it for the Euros in 2000 when Joos Valgaeren was playing for Belgium. I thought, well, he’s very quick, he’s aggressive and he was brilliant.”
O’Neill added that modern players tend to maintain their fitness levels better, and that he has already watched extended footage of certain targets beyond their World Cup appearances.
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