Martin O'Neill has returned to Celtic for a second spell as manager this season following the departure of Wilfried Nancy

Glasgow (AFP) - Celtic have appointed Martin O’Neill as their manager until the end of the season on Monday after the Scottish champions sacked Wilfried Nancy earlier in the day.

The 73-year-old O’Neill stepped in as caretaker boss for eight games following Brendan Rodgers’ exit in October, winning seven of those fixtures.

O’Neill, a full-time manager of the Glasgow giants from 2000-2005, stepped aside for Nancy in early December.

But the French boss was sacked on Monday after just eight games in charge, six of which ended in defeat.

“I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players,” O’Neill told Celtic’s website.

“I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game. He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.

“I’ve been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us.”

O’Neill returns with Celtic still second in the table, six points behind leaders Hearts, following a 3-1 loss at home to arch-rivals Rangers.

Defeat in the Glasgow derby sparked protests outside Celtic Park by frustrated fans and proved the final straw for the club’s hierarchy when it came to Nancy’s continued employment.