No Celtic future talks before cup final for O'Neill

Martin O'Neill is not expecting any talks about his future at Celtic before Saturday's Scottish Cup final with Dunfermline Athletic - and doubts whether he would "have the energy" to continue.

O'Neill, who first managed Celtic from 2000 to 2005, has twice stepped in as interim manager this season after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.

Upon his second return in January, Celtic trailed leaders Hearts by six points.

The Tynecastle side went into Saturday's meeting with Celtic in Glasgow one point in front and were on course to be champions at 1-1 until Celtic scored two late goals to give O'Neill another Scottish Premiership title-winning moment.

"No, I don't think anything would be said," O'Neill, 74, said on Talksport when asked about his and the club's managerial future.

"We've got the big Scottish Cup final next Saturday and I don't think that anything would be discussed [before] then, nor was I expecting it to.

"If you were asking me today, I genuinely wouldn't have the energy to do it at this moment. I am fairly decent in terms of age. I'm going to see less days than I've seen."

O'Neill has been pleased by how he has dealt with the demands of the job, but what happens next is unclear.

He added: "Who knows? I definitely found energy from somewhere. I think that was to do with working with a lot of people, young coaches who were fantastic for me. And also, stepping into the training ground each day and seeing a lot of young people, I did definitely, I felt a rejuvenation.

"I definitely felt some sort renaissance as much as anything else. And that hasn't left me as from today. I'm tired, but it hasn't left me as from today.

"Do I think that Celtic should offer me? I don't think that. Do I feel I've merited? Of course I have."

Major shareholder Dermot Desmond twice asked O'Neill back to the club this term and O'Neill said he had spent "a couple of minutes" with Desmond following Saturday's win, adding: "He was in really good form."

O'Neill now has eight trophies as Celtic manager, with his eyes on a ninth at Hampden at the weekend.

Paul Lambert captained the club during the Northern Irishman's first reign and would be delighted to see his old boss stay on.

"When he got the job, I said he was the only manager that could have gone in there and turned it around," Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland.

"That's why I thought it was a brilliant appointment.

"It's the way he is, he gets players to run that extra yard for him

"Is it the greatest Celtic team I've ever seen? No. What I do give the lads credit for is never giving in, even though they weren't performing to their best levels.

"The manager has nothing to prove. His record at the club stands up to anyone. The age thing doesn't wash with me.

"He's a brilliant manager and if Celtic keep him, great. That's if he wants to stay, it's his decision."

Lambert was asked if the lure of making an impression in Europe might be tempting for O'Neill.

A Champions League winner with Borrusia Dortmund in 1997, he replied: "Celtic will need to improve vastly to compete at that level.

"They need to recruit some good players. I'm talking about ready-made guys that can handle Champions League football."