Decision to stay at Celtic did not take long - O'Neill

What the report says

Martin O'Neill has said he was not seriously considering leaving Celtic after the club’s recent dip in form, according to BBC Sport Football. The 74-year-old manager, who returned on a one-year deal after two interim spells last season, said the choice to stay “didn’t take that long” and that he was happy to continue as long as the club wanted him to.

BBC Sport reported that O'Neill’s comments came after Celtic suffered three straight defeats, including two losses to Rangers and a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. He had previously hinted that it might be time to step away, but later said the disappointment of the run and the timing of the international break gave him a moment to reflect. He added that leaving at that point would have been the wrong move.

Looking ahead, O'Neill said he still believes in the squad and wants the team to focus on winning the league. He also pointed to the demanding schedule ahead, with nine matches in 28 days before the next international break. The remarks underline both Celtic’s pressure to recover quickly and O'Neill’s continued commitment, despite the strain of management. BBC Sport also noted that he won seven trophies in his first spell at Celtic between 2000 and 2005.