Paul Lambert, a key member of O’Neill’s Celtic side in his first spell at the club, says the appointment is “a no-brainer” as he can deliver instant success because “Celtic aren’t a development club”.
The former midfielder dismissed O’Neill’s age as an issue, saying “you have it whatever your age”, and lauded his people skills.
“His man management was the same as with any top manager I played under – Ottmar Hitzfeld was similar,” Lambert said.
“They know how to manage a dressing room, they know how to manage people.”
“Martin knows Celtic must be a winning club, it can’t be development and waiting for one or two months to get results,” added Lambert, who admits he was concerned about the prospect of another Nancy scenario.
“If you don’t deliver results you are gone regardless of your best long-term intentions. At Celtic you have to win and he is the best person to do it.”
The former Scotland midfielder believes it was O’Neill rather than the squad who got Celtic the double – and that significant changes in playing personnel are inevitable.
“The main person that got them through was the manager. A lot of those players let Celtic down massively and if they have to move on then I am sorry but that is the nature of the game,” he added.
“Martin knows he can stand up to any members of the board – they are so thankful for him coming in.
“I am pretty sure no player will come in there that he thinks is not going to contribute and I am not talking about just coming off the bench – he will want people to go in and make a massive contribution.”
