We will get behind Martin O’Neill, The Board must back him too.

The Panic is Over, at least for now. Martin O’Neill Returns Yet Again as Celtic Manager!

I was torn.

The emotional pull of Martin O’Neill has me all over the place as a Celtic Supporter.

I wrote here how I would probably of liked him to firstly, be offered the job, and then perhaps say thanks but no thanks.

A legacy cemented with a Double against all odds.

The other part of me weighed up who Celtic could possibly announce that gave you more confidence of retaining the League Championship and doing the unthinkable – actually qualifying for the Champions League!

I already feel in a better place ahead of these early season crucial qualifiers.

Clarity is there now. Martin is our man.

What a temptation it must of been for our Manager too, one more dance at the Champions League Party.

Never in his wildest dreams 12 months ago could O’Neill of envisaged he would spend the following Summer as a Double Winning Celtic Manger and plotting a route for the Club he loves to get back to the Champions League.

As Oasis sing “Nobody ever seems to remember life is a game we play”.

I think Martin O’Neills story even pushes that rhetoric to the extreme.

It is simply sensational that the Manager who brought me so much joy through my high school years has returned in my late 30’s and won all over again.

Let alone be ready to test his wits once again against the best of the best Europe has to offer.

He has my 100% backing.

Will the man with the Midas touch have the same 100% backing from the Board and Absentee Landlord?

That is where the speculation will be relentless this Summer.

Brace yourselves.

He has to have had assurances, of that we know as why else would he take the job?

At his age, and after so long out the game, why sign up like a lamb to the slaughter without being given promises of REAL support.

Yes, he has an ego, and a defiant “write me off at your peril” vibe to him. I can see that.

But he is too intelligent to go in blindly with just that aforementioned vibe as his tool kit.

Celtic’s level of investment and type of investment in players has to change dramatically to keep him sweet.

Look at his disdain for the quality brought in during the January window. Bit part players at best. Wastes of time at worst.

No, I feel there simply has to be change on the horizon with the player trading approach.

I have to be honest though, I said very similar when Brendan returned.

We had the famous 9 in a row summer that year. 9 players signed and zero of them part of the plans 3 years later. The only survivor was Bernardo – look at his appearance numbers for last season.

So once bitten twice shy should really be my mantra here.

O’Neill appointed causes too much excitement to focus on that though.

He will not be the self deprecating, almost shy figure we seen with the media these last 6 months when it comes to ensuring deals are done, prices are paid, demands are matched.

This will be a different animal The Board are faced with behind closed doors.

Remember Martin walked out of Villa, after three 6th placed finishes, on the Eve of the new season over lack of recruitment and investment.

Of course they then spent £24m on Darren Bent in the January window when in the bottom half of the league table.

Now of course I do not see him walking out on us in such fashion.

But it’s a fine example from his management career where a Board should heed his advice as well as his warnings.

The thought of Nicholson trying to patronise or condoscend the great man does tickle me a bit, I have to say.

That Board of Directors will never of felt so out of depth as they do when they fail to deliver the first piece of Business requested of them by our new permanent Manager.

Desmond slinks off, for now, with the fans happy at his final decision in the end.

Fail to back him and the banners will be back up before you know it.

And with Martin in the building, the banners may well be the least of your worries if you do not back him properly.

Keep Your Eyes on The Board.