Strachan can deliver title to Celtic Park, insists Desmond

Published on Thursday 26 May 2005 12:09

CELTIC supremo Dermot Desmond has tipped new manager Gordon Strachan to win back the championship next season.

The Scot will replace departing boss Martin O’Neill after Saturday’s Tennent’s Scottish Cup final after the Northern Irishman announced he was standing down for family reasons.

Desmond said: "Sunday was heartbreaking but I think Gordon will carry the mantle and overturn that next year. We would not have taken on Gordon unless we thought he was going to be successful. We chose him because he is in the same mould as Martin. He’s managed clubs that are not top clubs - Coventry and Southampton - as Martin did at Leicester and Norwich.

"Gordon now has full freedom to develop Celtic Football Club as he sees fit. Nobody will be looking over his shoulder."

Meanwhile, O’Neill has expressed a desire to move back into management in the future.

While he has quit to be with his sick wife Geraldine, he refuses to rule out a return to Celtic or a coaching post.

"I would definitely like to get back into management, no doubt about it, but when that is I wouldn’t be sure - that will obviously depend on other aspects."

O’Neill also gave his successor his blessing and backed him to carry on his legacy by bringing more trophies to the club.

"A new manager is in place and he will do wonderfully well and the torch will pass over to him," said the departing boss. "He will inherit, as I inherited, some really good players and he will inherit one or two he will not be best pleased with."

Despite the level of emotions inside the walls of Celtic Park, O’Neill still had time for a joke as he spoke about his friend, and fellow pundit for the BBC.

"Did I identify him?" he quipped. "He was too small, I couldn’t see him. I am sure he will be fitter for you in a way I was unable to be."