Celtic pay dispute resolved, insists O’Neill

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill insists the row over Champions League bonuses has now been resolved.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill insists the row over Champions League bonuses has now been resolved.

The Parkhead players had been unhappy that bonuses due to them had not been paid for their heroics against Ajax and Juventus - mirroring the fracas which drove a wedge between the players and then Celtic chief executive Fergus McCann three years ago.

But O'Neill played down the dispute and added that both sides had reached agreement without the aid of a third party.

"As far as I know, it has been resolved," said O'Neill.

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"I don't think it was ever the issue that seemed to bring the club to its knees a couple of seasons ago. The players have gone on and played the matches and it didn't seem to matter in terms of performance.

"The players have continued knowing that something would be sorted out at some stage or another. It certainly never had the tone of a couple of years ago and I believe it has been resolved now."

But O'Neill sympathised with his players over the dispute although he maintains that it was a situation which would always be resolved.

"The old bonus system was something that they were working to, which had actually expired," said O'Neill.

"That has caused it and that's where any potential problems might be."