O'Neill says he is determined to lead Celtic after tough run

Martin O'Neill says he is just as determined to lead Celtic forward after thinking hard about his future during the international break.

The 74-year-old spoke in an interview published on 6 October, putting an end to questions about whether he might walk away. He said he wants to stay in charge and try to win the league, according to BBC Sport.

It follows a rough run of results. Celtic headed into the break after three defeats in a row. They lost twice to Rangers last month, either side of a 3-1 home defeat by Ferencvaros in the Europa League, Europe's second-tier club competition.

That sequence hurt. O'Neill admitted afterwards that "it might be time to wrap it up" in reference to his managerial career. He also said he would use the quiet weeks of the international break to reflect on his position.

Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson publicly backed him during that pause. The support mattered. O'Neill has now said his desire to carry on is undimmed.

His return to Celtic Park has already been quite a story. He took charge for two interim spells last season. Those spells ended with a league and Scottish Cup double, which earned him a one-year deal to stay on.

Celtic also flagged a new interview on their own channels, listed as 'Martin O'Neill: CelticPlayer exclusive interview' on 6 October.

For fans, this means clarity. The manager has looked at a difficult month, listened to the backing from above, and chosen to fight on. The task is simple and steep in equal measure: close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Scotland's top flight, and give supporters another title race to feel together.