O'Neill 'happy' with Celtic position

Martin O'Neill, the Celtic manager, says he has not signed the new contract he agreed in January. However, he insisted it was "not a major issue", but the admission is likely to resurrect speculation that he could leave the club in the near future.

O'Neill has guided Celtic into their first European final for 33 years and, following Rangers' surprise draw with Dundee on Sunday, his team also stand a good chance of retaining the Scottish Premier League trophy they have won for the past two seasons. Celtic could even go top tonight if they win their game in hand, against Motherwell, by four goals. The Northern Irishman's stock has never been higher as he moves into an élite bracket of managerial high achievers.

Leeds, who have still to appoint a long-term successor to Terry Venables, have twice tried to lure him to Elland Road and O'Neill has already been touted as a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. But O'Neill insisted the fact his signature was still missing from the 12-month rolling deal announced earlier in the season was not significant.

O'Neill, who will join Jock Stein as one of the club's greatest managers if they beat Porto in the Uefa Cup final in Seville on 21 May, said: "I don't think that is a major issue. We came to an agreement in January and I'm happy to go along with that. At Leicester I agreed a new contract and got round to signing it nine months later. In essence the thing was there. I'm happy to run my particular affairs on a handshake.

"It is not actually signed but I'm not going to get into too much of a panic. I have made an agreement with the board and I feel no reason to change that."

The Celtic defender Bobo Baldé has attempted to play down reports that Roma are interested in signing him. The centre-back was chosen ahead of Henrik Larsson to become the club's player of the year and was voted the SPL's player of the month for April.

Baldé has been consistent in both domestic and European competitions and it is no surprise that other clubs had put him under scrutiny. But he insisted the only thing on his mind was beating Motherwell tonight. He said: "I am happy here. It has been a good season but it is not finished yet. At the moment we are second and we are in the Uefa Cup final, but we have not won anything at the moment."