ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 26: Celtic Interim Manager Martin O'Neill during a Celtic MD-1 press conference at De Kuip Stadium, on November 26, 2025, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has fired what looks like a departing warning shot at the Celtic board
A month ago today the Irishman came in as interim manager following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.
While Rodgers has yet to explain his departure an educated guess would suggest that recruitment and the failure to reach the Champions League were major factors in his decision.
THE LOST GOALS
Over the last two transfer windows Celtic have delivered profits. On the park Kyogo Furuhasi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah have been sold. Shin Yamada, Kelechi Iheanacho, Callum Osmand, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti haven’t replaced the lost goals.
O’Neill has steered clear of squad issues during his stint in charge.
Over five matches Celtic have won four but lost heavily in Midtjylland, a well run club with less than one third of Celtic’s turnover.
O’Neill is expected to be replaced by Wilfried Nancy in the next week with the January transfer window about to open.
Ahead of facing Feyenoord the interim boss didn’t hold back on what Celtic require.
The Sun reports O’Neill saying:
If you have recruited a manager, that is fine but player recruitment is essential, it’s really important.
Last year in terms of Europe it was like a nice, shining light, as if you could push on. Then you step back again and it’s not so strong.
In the next couple of years, Celtic will come again in European football. They might just have to step back for a while at this minute, but recruitment is really important.
I know people always say about January being a difficult window, and it may well be.
But if you’re talking about rebuilding the club to try to compete in Europe, and to be able to not have a big intake of breath when someone expects you to go to Feyenoord and win, then that is the point.
Jock Stein said it, European football is where Celtic should be. But at this minute it’s a struggle for us.
EUROPA STRUGGLES
Tonight the struggle will be in Rotterdam, in two weeks Nancy could be facing Roma at Celtic Park.
Work on the January transfer window should be well underway, the club has acknowledged that mistakes were made in the summer.
The spotlight is now on Michael Nicholson and Paul Tisdale to deliver what the squad requires to win the SPFL Premiership title.
Returning to the world of media O’Neill will be able to give a genuine insiders view on Celtic’s January activity.
Celtic fans will be watching just as closely over January transfer activity.
In 2021 Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi joined Celtic on December 31. January doesn’t have to be a difficult window. That is the benchmark that Celtic fans will judge January 2026 business against.
I doubt we will see any Japanese players joining Celtic for a long time.
The treatment of our 2 summer recruits have seen to that.
Martin’s comment’s will fall on deaf ears as usual with the current board in place
At last MON has put the boot into the board….HH
The board thought MON was a patsy but they soon found out that he’s not good luck MR O’Neil in any future adventures
Well done to him for that very accurate ascertation !
The board are still there and so the illness will remain. These people are parasites and full of self interest. They are also utterly self-righteous and unprofessional and have no idea how to properly engage with others. To treat others like they do is scandalous.
Proper, accurate comment. Well said.