Much attention on Martin O'Neill in Shelbourne

Speaking after Celtic's 4-1 pre-season victory over Irish champions Shelbourne, O'Neill said he is ready to discuss his future - and the long-term planning at the club.

"Despite all the speculation that there has been in recent days, I was always happy to continue and see through my current contract," he said.

"In the absence of chairman Brian Quinn, I have spoken to major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

"Now we will sit down over the next few weeks and have an overall view of Celtic, what to do now and in the long term."

"I have got a good set of players at Parkhead. But now I'm looking towards the Scottish League and the Champions League in early August.

"That will be upon us pretty soon and I am hoping to get some players in as we need a little bit of help."

But O'Neill has fallen short of pledging himself to the club beyond the end of his current deal.

David Fernandez made his Celtic debut

"Nothing is forever. More so now than ever, the days of someone staying at a football club for eight or 10 years are few and far between," said O'Neill on Celtic's official website.

"There aren't many players now staying for ferocious lengths of periods and that's because the money's good in the game and people are always looking for new challenges.

"Because everything in football is so short term , what is the point of planning for four years down the way when that doesn't happen?"

Celtic defeated Shelbourne thanks to a double from John Hartson and goals from Didier Agathe and Chris Sutton.

The Dublin side had equalised through Stephen Geoghegen.