O'Neill rules out more departures
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill insists he does not need to off-load any players just because he has no cash to spend on new faces.
The Hoops boss admitted yesterday that his only hope of freshening up his squad by the end of the month would be to take players on loan.
O’Neill was given the go-ahead to snap up Stephen Pearson from Motherwell for £350,000 (€507,000) last week but it appears there are no more funds for new players.
There has been plenty of speculation about more Hoops stars leaving the club following the news that Liam Miller has signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United.
John Hartson is the latest player to be linked with a move to the Barclaycard Premiership but O’Neill has already denied any approaches from Fulham.
And he insists there is no need for supporters to fear losing any star players before the end of the month.
He said: “While we are not in a position to go out and buy someone at this minute, we are also in the reasonable position of not having to let people go either.”
O’Neill says progress is being made with players, such as Jackie McNamara, in terms of contract negotiations.
And the Hoops manager admits he is already thinking longer-term to secure the futures of some of his top players – especially striker Chris Sutton.
O’Neill added: “He is playing exceptionally well and most people at Celtic would want Chris Sutton to stay on.
“The way Chris has been performing, there wouldn’t be a shadow of a doubt that we would want him to stay at the football club and, with that in mind, the sooner we enter into discussions with him the better.
“Chris is at the age where he is still very capable and who knows what the future holds, but if he were out of contract tomorrow there would be no end of clubs looking to sign him.”
Celtic tomorrow take on a Hearts side still shrouded in uncertainty over where they will be playing their games next season – with club chiefs keen on taking out tenancy at Murrayfield and some shareholders and supporters opposing the move.
But O’Neill doesn’t expect off-field problems to have any effect on this weekend’s game.
He said: “I don’t think it will make one jot of a difference – I think they will put those problems to one side for the game.
“There is always a really good atmosphere when we play there. The ground is tight and it’s usually full.
“I’m not going to get involved in any political discussion – they know their own business better than I do – and whatever they do, I think Tynecastle is a very atmospheric ground.
“It usually makes for an exciting game.”
