Macari, sacked just nine months after taking the reins of Celtic in October 1993, claimed in a newspaper article that he was probably the last person to speak to O'Neill prior to the Irishman agreeing to become manager of Celtic last summer - and sensed he was not sure whether to accept the job.

According to Macari, now in charge of English First Division strugglers Huddersfield, O'Neill showed signs of uncertainty when the pair met by chance at a petrol station on the eve of O'Neill's announcement that he had resigned as Leicester City manager.

But O'Neill said: 'I must be suffering from Alzheimer's because I distinctly remember him telling me not to move. Lou's version of events is somewhat different from my recollections of what was said. I was not swithering.

'I had already made up my mind about what I was going to do and I simply had a conversation with Lou, who was on his way to Wembley, I think.'

O'Neill, who did his best to mask his obvious rage behind a smile, added: 'I like Lou, but I am going to phone him about this.'