Soccer: Martin O'Neill was keeping his counsel last night as his future with Celtic remained in the balance. Neither manager nor club offered any fresh clues as to whether Saturday's Scottish Cup final would be his final match in charge.
The Celtic boss is expected by many in the game to take a break from football to care for his wife Geraldine, who is ill.
He has spent five years in the Parkhead hot-seat and hinted himself on Friday there was a chance he could step down.
The Scottish Cup final against Dundee United on Saturday would present O'Neill with the chance to provide a successful finale to his reign, following their championship agony at the weekend.
O'Neill's departure would first have to be announced to the stock exchange as Celtic are listed as a plc. But former Coventry and Southampton boss Gordon Strachan has already been touted as a potential successor.
Strachan was the preferred choice of Scotland fans to replace Berti Vogts before the Scottish Football Association appointed Walter Smith as Scotland manager. And Celtic fans have indicated his appointment would be welcomed.
Another scenario is O'Neill remaining at Celtic in a consultancy role, with team affairs being handed over to his right-hand men John Robertson and Steve Walford, while being given more time to attend to family matters.
Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas expects an announcement regarding O'Neill's future to be made by the club before the Hampden final.
But Nicholas believes the possibility that the Northern Irishman could remain in a reduced capacity is plausible.
"There have been strong links with Gordon Strachan or would they give Martin a little more time and keep John Robertson and Steve Walford as the coaches and keep him there?"
Rangers snatched the championship from Celtic's grasp on a dramatic final day of the league season. But Rangers defender Marvin Andrews has already sent his best wishes to O'Neill and his family. The devout Christian said yesterday: "My main concern for Martin O'Neill is about his family and his wife. You cannot compare any championship in football to family."
