Celtic’s new permanent manager Martin O’Neill is pushing hard to secure his preferred backroom team ahead of next season’s campaign.
The 74-year-old was confirmed on a one-year deal last week after guiding the Hoops to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double during his interim spells.
Notably absent from the official announcement was any mention of who would join O’Neill in his coaching setup at Parkhead.
Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham both featured prominently during O’Neill’s interim stints, and the manager is determined to retain both men in his new-look staff.
Maloney temporarily stepped away from his role as Celtic Professional Player Pathway Manager to serve as O’Neill’s No. 2 across those caretaker periods.
Fotheringham, who has coaching experience in both Germany and England, was also brought into the setup by the veteran Irishman during that time.
Reports indicate the pair have been offered take-it-or-leave-it deals by the Parkhead hierarchy, despite their contributions being widely regarded as significant last term.
Celtic TV’s Grant, a Hoops hero who works inside Parkhead, believes the board will ultimately back O’Neill on his key demands, including a transfer budget.
Grant told the Go Radio Football Show: “I don’t think Martin would have taken it unless they were guarantees.”
He added: “Martin is a wise old fox. He knows he won’t get everything he is looking for, but I’m sure he will get 90 per cent of the things he is looking for.”
Grant was emphatic that O’Neill would not have returned without assurances, stating: “I don’t think Martin would have stood in that dugout one more time if he didn’t feel that, because he knows that the team is well short of the levels he is expecting from Celtic.”
The Hoops insider also suggested O’Neill would handle player departures very differently from his predecessor, saying: “I don’t think Martin will allow guys to leave, like Brendan [Rodgers] did last year, before replacements come in.”
One notable absence from O’Neill’s expected staff is former Celtic flop Efrain Juarez, who had reportedly been in talks to join the new setup.
Juarez, who recently stepped down from his role at Pumas, is now set to take charge at Hungarian champions ETO Gyor, according to reports emerging from Mexico.
Further disruption to the backroom picture comes with news that long-serving Celtic coach Gavin Strachan is closing in on a move to English Championship club West Brom.
O’Neill will be eager to resolve the uncertainty around his staff quickly as Celtic look to strengthen their squad significantly ahead of the new season.
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