Borders Book Festival: Martin O'Neill reveals thoughts on Brendan Rodgers returning to Celtic; being asked to join Trophy Day celebrations; and the two things he'd change about his time as manager
Last updated 16th Jun 2023
Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is tipping Brendan Rodgers to win over the Parkhead support - if he's given the vacant manager's job.
The sacked Leicester boss is odds-on favourite to take over from Ange Postecoglou, who left the Scottish champions earlier this month to join Tottenham.
But opinion on his potentially imminent appointment has divided some fans, after he previously left the club mid-season while chasing a treble Treble and still in the hunt for a record-breaking ten titles-in-a-row.
When asked whether Rodgers is the right man to take Celtic forward, O'Neill - himself a treble winner - told Greatest Hits Radio: “Well, why not? When Brendan left the football club some fans weren’t happy, so he has to overcome that. And I think he knows that himself. But, like anything else, if you start winning football matches, that’s forgotten. The sooner you win the games, the better.
“And he’s coming into a really winning side; he was successful himself as the manager.
"So, at the end of it all, there’ll be the occasional feeling that he left under more difficult circumstances, but I think if you win the football matches, you’re forgiven.”
The former Republic of Ireland manager was in Melrose last night (Friday) to speak about his autobiography - On Days Like These - at the Borders Book Festival.
But he revealed he doesn't expect to get asked to return to the dugout at Parkhead himself - despite being invited to join the club's Trophy Day celebrations last month.
"That was actually very nice", O'Neill told Greatest Hits Radio, "although I was concerned about it beforehand.
"Iain Jamieson, who is my press officer, asked me to do it. I said: 'Are you sure that Ange is happy enough with this?' And he said: 'He's absolutely happy with it.' So, I thought: 'Okay, I'll do it.'
"The reason I did it is because I owe Iain about 57 favours!
"It was really nice, going on to the little walk up to the stadium when the buses pulled in, and then I think I kind of milked it - according to my wife. Waving the trophy aloft inside the stadium itself, almost as if I'd won it myself."
But of course, he had won it previously and is still regarded as one of Celtic's most successful managers.
Later, in his chat with James Lamont from the Financial Times, which sponsored his sold-out event, O'Neill admitted he could never rule out a return to football management. But not at Celtic?
"I wouldn't be asked," he replied. "I had the time of my life (there), it really was fantastic.
"Of course there are moments I'd love to change. I'd like to change the Seville (score); if we had won (the UEFA Cup Final v Porto) 3-2 instead of losing 3-2; we lost the league one year as well at Motherwell last day."
But he added: "There's not much else I'd like to change about it. I had a fantastic time; the crowd took to me, which was really nice; had some really big, big moments in Old Firm games; and the run to Seville was terrific; so I had my time, and I loved it."
Meanwhile, at Harmony Garden on Thursday night, Belfast writer Lucy Caldwell (pictured above) was announced as the winner of the 2023 Walter Scott Prize for her novel These Days, a story of loss and love set during the aerial bombardment of her home city in 1941.
The Prize was founded by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch to honour the nineteenth-century achievements of Sir Walter Scott, considered to be the inventor and father of the historical novel.
The Borders Book Festival in Melrose continues on Saturday and Sunday, June 17th and 18th, with appearances from the likes of football commentator Archie Macpherson, former Scotland footballer Pat Nevin, comedian Rory Bremner, Dancing on Ice star Arlene Phillips and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
For the full programme and tickets click here**, or pop along on the day.**