GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 23: Peter Lawwell (L) and Michael Nicholson at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park, on August 23, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has suggested that Wilfried Nancy should body swerve the controversies flowing around Celtic.
A disastrous transfer window, Champions League exit and stumbling start to the season await the new man, widely expected to be the current Columbus Crew boss.
Surrounding those issues is the growing discontent among supporters.
AGM FARCE
Further igniting the issue was the way that Peter Lawwell closed the 2025 AGM on Friday.
That was followed by three statements out of the club as they continued the onslaught on supporters at every opportunity.
Week by week the battle lines are deepening, topping it all off was an AGM speech from Ross Desmond where he released some of his Dad’s anger.
The new manager faces a massive task with O’Neill warning:
I think that the new manager coming in, I think that he should divorce himself from all those proceedings. This is a fresh start for him. He hasn’t been party to anything that’s happened in recent times.
So just let’s say it was me and I’d never manage the football club again, I’d be saying, ‘yeah, that’s got nothing to do with me’. I have to try and win some football games and then maybe at some stage or another, if we can get a real team together that can go and compete, not just domestically, but obviously in European football.
Well, that would be his job. Absolutely, but he’s got a fresh start. He’s going in to step into something that really has been none of his concern. And that’s the way I would be approaching it. And it’s not like passing the buck. It’s just saying, well, sorry, that’s not my making. My making now is to put Celtic back in the game.
That interview was with the Daily Record as Celtic continue their policy of working with legacy media partners.
The Record are constantly portraying the board in a sympathetic light. As a reward they are getting increased access to players and management.
MEDIA PARTNERS
Print circulation of the Record is now just below 38,000 per day. Their digital audience doesn’t get close to justifying the staff that they are carrying.
Nancy is expected to watch Celtic playing Hibs on Sunday then take charge on Monday.
If that timetable is followed the new managed faces Dundee on Day 3 followed by a very testing run of fixtures.
Over the course of 10 days Celtic face Hearts, Roma, a cup final against St Mirren and Dundee United.
Further protests are expected from supporters over those matches with the club cranking up their attacks on fans led by banning the Green Brigade.
No one, the board, fans or media have covered their selves in glory recently and it is time for give and take from all sides.
Also, if that farce of an AGM were a union meeting it would have been called as well……
With a new manager coming in it is crucial that the club comes first above anything else……
HH
Editor: Hopefully Ross Desmond and Chairman Lawwell are reading, it is on public record that big Peter reads this site.
Its time for MON to f**k off . Thank you martin you have done your bit dont be a patsy for those f**kers a minute longer.
Sorry you feel like that but I get it. This was what I feared might happen when martin came back he has done well but can’t help being dragged into the horrible stuff and I just hope he gets out of it with his re0putation intact.
Martin O Neill’s reputation has gone as far as I’m concerned for siding with the Desmond’s, but fair play to him for nailing his colours to the mast agaist the fans, we can see what he is now. He should have taken his own advice. Taxi for O Neill.
A good few years ago I was in a social club having a drink with work mates. An old guy came in and 3 old guys sitting near the door actually spat on the floor. When I asked my work mate what it was about he said the first old guy had scabbed a miners strike in the 30s or 40s and the others hadn’t forgotten.
That’s where anyone who stands with the Desmond’s are in my estimation, scabs on the face of Celtic football club, who are sticking a finger up at the supporters past who gave everything for this club.
They’ll be around 58.000 scabs in our support at Parkhead v Hearts on 7th December Wee Jock !
Will that cheer you?, is that barely suppressed glee?, matters not, you’re talkin s..t.
But then you’d have been right there with the scab yourself, back in the day.