Brendan Rodgers resigns as Celtic manager
Former boss Martin O'Neill returns on interim basis - follow his press conference
"I had 10 minutes to make up my mind" says O'Neill
The interim manager also says the breakdown in relations between Rodgers and Dermot Desmond is "sad"
Scottish Premiership champions are eight points behind Hearts after losing 3-1 at Tynecastle on Sunday
Who should succeed Rodgers? Submit your thoughts here and vote in our poll at the top of this page
Celtic
Martin O'Neill hopes to unite Celtic again.
"Naturally I think it's the easiest thing in the world to say that, when a club is successful, it needs everybody going in the same direction," he says.
"At the moment, that's not happening. Whether I'm able to do that is in the lap of the gods.
"The clubs and the fans being together, that's it, to win football matches."
Celtic
Martin O'Neill says "I can't comment on that" after being asked about major shareholder Dermot Desmond's strong words aimed at Brendan Rodgers after the manager's resignation last night.
"That's something outside my remit," he says. "Celtic have been so successful for a long long time now. Each manager that has stepped into the job had done brilliantly.
"Brendan has done so well both times he has been at this football club. I don't know what's happened and it's probably not for me to make a judgement on this stage.
"Winning is the most important thing."
Celtic
Martin O'Neill: "I didn't need to be told what's required. I got a call late afternoon, early evening from Dermot Desmond. He said Brendan had resigned.
"People had been taken aback by that. I assumed nothing would happen until the end of the season for anybody. I was asked if i'd come in and hold proceedings until they found a permanent manager. I had 10 minutes to make up my mind, which I did."
Celtic
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill: "Right, OK. I knew about this less than 24 hours ago. I'm really excited. Nervous excitement. I obviously want to do as well as I can. I'm looking forward to it. I think.
"This is a role where they're looking for a permanent manager. At this minute, I've been called in to do the job. Interim manager at this point - and that's the way it will remain."
After a 20-year absence, he is here.
Martin O'Neill is about to address the media as Celtic interim manager...
Here we go!
Image source, SNSHopefully they managed to order the right size of club suit for Martin O'Neill at such short notice
We're still waiting on Martin O'Neill taking his seat at Celtic's media conference.
He hasn't had much time to gather his thoughts and maybe needs a bit more.
Little wonder, it's been a whirlwind for everyone at Celtic Park and beyond.
So is Martin O'Neill as interim manager, with Shaun Maloney as assistant, a good move for Celtic?
And who do you think should be Brendan Rodgers' permanent replacement?
Image source, SNSMartin O'Neill is all smiles as he returns to Celtic Park as interim manager
Fan writer Tino, of The Celtic Exhange, supplies our weekly supporters column and says of Brendan Rodgers' departure: "It has been a turbulent few months at Celtic, but last night's extraordinary events took the drama to levels rarely seen at the club in modern times.
"That Brendan Rodgers would leave with immediate effect - a decision seemingly of his own making - was perhaps the least surprising twist. Dermot Desmond's astonishing follow-up statement truly stole the headlines.
"It was a ruthless move that completely undermines recent claims there was no rift between the boardroom and dugout.
"All we can do - and will do - is get fully behind returning hero Martin O'Neill as he and Shaun Maloney work to steady the ship and keep the season on course for whoever takes over in the long term.
"There's a growing sense Maloney may be being primed as the next man in charge, but the club must surely cast the net wider to seek a fresh, forward-thinking manager who can restore high standards."
Jackie McNamara insists Shaun Maloney has "great pedigree" after his former Celtic team-mate was put in interim charge alongside Martin O'Neill.
Former Scotland full-back McNamara believes the familiar faces can "steady the ship" following Brendan Rodgers' resignation.
Maloney returned to Celtic in June as professional player pathway manager and McNamara told BBC Radio Scotland: "They'll have seen Shaun around the training ground, they'll have seen him at the games.
"They'll know there's a wee bit of continuity there and obviously I think [Gavin] Strachan's still there and the goalie coach Woodsy [Stevie Woods].
"There's not drastic change. They'll just be looking for guidance at this point and just to steady the ship and take the pressure off, because it was boiling over."
Former Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert thinks the Scottish champions have "pulled a rabbit out the hat" by persuading Martin O'Neill to return as interim manager.
Lambert was captain when O'Neill led the Glasgow side to the 2003 Uefa Cup final and spoke to the man he still calls "gaffer" on Tuesday morning, telling him "you'll be made a hero - until the football starts. He 100% knows that".
Lambert says bringing in someone "who in most people's eyes is probably the most successful manager since Jock Stein" will "soften the blow" for any supporters disappointed to see Rodgers leave.
Hearts' 3-1 over Celtic, which took the Edinburgh side eight points clear of the reigning champions, was the final nail for Brendan Rodgers' reign.
However, Hearts chair Ann Budge doubts such a "big decision" by the reigning champions "was made on the basis of Hearts winning on Sunday" but is coming round to the possibility of her club winning the league title.
Read Ann Budge on Hearts title challenge.
Image source, SNSAnn Budge says Brighton owner Tony Bloom's investment has been vital
So how did we get here with Celtic now with an interim manager?
As BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English stated: "Fifteen minutes after Celtic issued the news of Brendan Rodgers' shock resignation via a perfunctory five-paragraph, 134-word statement, the howitzer landed, courtesy of Dermot Desmond, with whiskers twitching in apparent fury.
"In 551 words, major shareholder Desmond eviscerated his old chum."
That about sums up how the relationship between the club's manager and major shareholder had disintegrated in recent months.
Speaking to TalkSport this morning, Martin O'Neill said he is only "keeping the seat warm" for a permanent Celtic manager and that he had to "pull myself up off the floor" when he was asked to take interim charge.
O'Neill left Celtic Park 20 years ago after a trophy-laden spell, but the 73-year-old has been out of management since leaving Nottingham Forest in 2019.
We'll get his thoughts in more depth shortly.
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter a seismic announcement that reverberated round Scottish football last night, Celtic are poised to welcome back a managerial hero in around 15 minutes.
Brendan Rodgers resigned last night as manager following a rift with major shareholder Dermot Desmond and the board amid some disappointing results and performances.
So it will be Martin O'Neill, now installed as interim manager and assisted by Shaun Maloney, who will be in the hotseat for the pre-match media conference as Celtic prepare for Falkirk's Scottish Premiership visit on Wednesday.
Stay with us for that as it comes in live.
One thing Martin O'Neill kept repeating is that his appointment is only on a short-term basis.
He didn't specify how "short term", but it remains the case that Celtic are now searching for a new permanent appointment.
Take a look back at this list of potential candidates, who have all been linked to the post in various publications today:
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesNew Rangers manager Danny Rohl didn't give much away regarding his thoughts on the appointment of Martin O'Neill, and potentially facing him on Sunday.
Speaking to media, he said: "I know it's a big topic for everyone in Scottish football at the moment, but you have to understand my focus is on my team.
"I think the pressure is always on for a manager in football. It's never nice when a manager is sacked or something like this, we are all together, managers in this business, but that's football.
"For me, I've enjoyed the last couple of days, and it would be good to keep the momentum now."
Image source, Getty ImagesMartin O'Neill couldn't specify how long his 'short-term' role as Celtic interim manager would last when speaking to TalkSport earlier today.
However, if he was to take charge of more than one game, his second fixture would be against Rangers in the League Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
O'Neill is no stranger to an Old Firm clash, having beaten Rangers seven times in a row during his first spell at the club.
However, the recent story of the Old Firm paints a different picture, with Celtic having failed to win in either of their last four clashes.
Can O'Neill get The Hoops back to winning ways?
Image source, Getty ImagesThere isn't much time for Martin O'Neill to settle into his interim role, with the first test coming on Wednesday night against Falkirk.
Falkirk currently sit sixth in the table, having won three, drawn three and lost three so far in the league this season.
Having won the Scottish Championship last season, they've faced Celtic once so far this campaign, when Celtic won 4-1 in the early stages of the League Cup.