The international break arrived at a much-needed time for Martin O’Neill<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What was initially an excellent start in his first full season back in the dugout has threatened to turn disastrous after crashing out of Champions League qualification, suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ferencvaros in the Europa League, and losing two Old Firm derbies on the bounce.<\/p>\n It’s the stuff of nightmares for the veteran manager, whose Celtic<\/a> side are now just two points above Rangers in the Scottish Premiership<\/a> with the pressure continuing to increase.<\/p>\n In public, however, O’Neill has the backing of Parkhead chiefs. Club chief Michael Nicholson told reporters after a second Old Firm derby defeat in two weeks: “The losses in the last week have been painful for us all.”<\/em><\/p>\n He then insisted the club, “will now come together and support Martin and the players, as we focus our efforts on achieving success domestically and in the Europa League.”<\/em><\/p>\n That said, not even O’Neill could escape the reality that the end of his tenure could be rapidly approaching after telling reporters himself that the end could be near.<\/p>\n “It might be time to wrap it up.” – O’Neill after a second Old Firm defeat<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n There’s certainly a lot for Celtic to think about and recent reports have name-dropped former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe<\/a> as a potential option as well as former Everton manager Sean Dyche.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the event that O’Neill does depart, a shortlist of potential replacements is already emerging. According to TeamTalk, Celtic are now plotting a move for Dyche, who has been out of a job since leaving Nottingham Forest after just 25 games last season.<\/p>\n The English manager is part of a shortlist, which also includes Kieran McKenna, and could return to the dugout and complete a move to Scottish football for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n Dyche has often found himself hired to take clubs away from relegation danger, though did previously help Burnley qualify for European football after bringing them up to the Premier League.<\/p>\n The Celtic job would be new territory nonetheless and new pressure that the 55-year-old has never experienced in a high-profile pursuit of title glory.<\/p>\n Sean Dyche Premier League record<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n Games<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 350<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Wins<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 99<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Draws<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 95<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Defeats<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 156<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n Even without a significant title under his belt, however, Dyche has been at the centre of some impressive praise over the years. Manchester United legend and former Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a> even dubbed the Celtic candidate “fantastic” after his work at Burnley.<\/p>\n There would be plenty of risks involved and Celtic are backing O’Neill for the time being, but there’s no doubt that a manager with 99 Premier League wins under his belt is a viable option for the Bhoys.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n Celtic now targeting Sean Dyche <\/strong>
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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Chris Radburn<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n
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