The Martin O’Neill era was one of best times I had ever seen as a Celtic fan.
Starved of success until the Wim Jansen reign that stopped them winning 10 in a row, the club was expected to kick on build on the league and Cup double the Dutchman delivered.
But after a tempestuous relationship with the then General Manager, Jock Brown, Jansen left and John Barnes was appointed.
We all know what happened after that and after that disastrous appointment, Martin O’Neill was given the Parkhead hot seat.
After five years, one Treble and a European Final, O’Neill left the club due to look after his wife after she fell ill, but in his final season he managed to capture the loan signing of Craig Bellamy.
The Welshman was a fiery character on the field and when asked if he had the opportunity to sign him permanently, O’Neill on The Go Radio Football Show, said, “He came to the football club, we took him on loan from Newcastle at the time.
“I think he was having the occasional argument with Graham Souness at that stage, so we took Bellamy.
“And Bellamy would have been fantastic for us if we if we had signed him.
“Perhaps he might have signed for us had I been staying on at the football club but I left in that in that summer.
“So we never really got that opportunity to do so.
“But Bellamy, for the period of time that he was with us was really excellent.”
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