Martin O’Neill may have left Glasgow almost 18 years ago but, going by his comments about Rangers new boy Michael Beale, he remains a loyal Celtic man.
The Ibrox outfit have hired a replacement for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Rangers, who are nine points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic, brought Beale back to Glasgow this week.
The 42-year-old had previously worked for the Gers as part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff up North.
This is only his second managerial post – and the first lasted all of 22 games, before leaving for Scotland.
Asked on BBC’s Sacked In The Morning podcast if he has any words of encouragement for Beale, the legendary former Celtic boss brutally said, with a deadpan delivery: “Well I won’t be giving him advice anyway.”
The live audience – including co-host Craig Levein – erupted in laughter at O’Neill’s response, partially because he wasn’t actually joking.
This is someone who won six Premiership and Scottish Cup titles – three apiece – during his phenomenal time in charge on the green half of the Old Firm divide.
And despite having left way back in 2005, clearly Celtic retains a big piece of his heart and advising the old enemy remains a no-go.
With or without advice from O’Neill, there’s no escaping the fact that Beale has a huge job at Rangers and with the Bhoys so comfortably ahead in the Premiership table, he may well begin building for next season in January.
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