GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 17: Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond, and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson (L-R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park, on May 17, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
According to Anthony Joseph Celtic are reported to have held constructive talks with Robbie Keane over becoming the next manager.
The Sky Sports News reporter has been a fairly accurate source of Celtic news over the years.
It is almost five months since Wilfried Nancy was sacked but there is still very little direction over who will be next season’s manager.
The SPFL season starts on August 1/2 with a Champions League Play Off scheduled for August 19 and 26.
That timeline is coming closer into view with most fans expecting a massive overhaul of the squad.
Twelve players going out with the expectation of six or seven first team starters arriving seems a fairly modest expectation.
It seems that a position has to be found for Martin O’Neill but there is little clarity on that role. It could be manager, mentor or even a boardroom place.
A lazy, divisive and uninspiring candidate. Shame on our board again for this cronyism.
— SackTheBoard (@Bhoy_Whunder) June 3, 2026
Celtic have held constructive talks with Robbie Keane over their managerial vacancy.
Sky Sports News understands further discussions are scheduled to take place this week.Â
Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond is due to speak with interim boss Martin O’Neill in the next 24 hours to establish his appetite for remaining at the club in some capacity.Â
As Sky Sports News revealed on Monday, if O’Neill wants to remain as manager, the club are open to discussing a short-term contract.Â
But, if O’Neill does not want the job permanently, they’ll enter discussions about a possible position in the football operations side, or an advisory and consultancy role.Â
Keane, who left Ferencvaros last month, is believed to want to bring in Stephen Glass, Scott Brown and Jonny Hayes as his backroom staff – if he were to be given the job.Â
Another target Celtic would still like to speak to is Wales boss Craig Bellamy.Â
The former Celtic forward reiterated his commitment to Wales in a press conference on Monday, but the Hoops could still test his resolve in the coming days.
O’Neill and Keane worked together as manager and captain for the Ireland side a decade ago.
How that relationship is in 2026 is anyone’s guess.
CELTIC DRAWING OUT THE CRITICAL APPOINTMENT
O’Neill has never held any position other than manager since retiring from playing.
He has a unique skill set but so far that has never involved being a Director of Football or any background role.
Many would suggest that needing some sort of mentor should disqualify a candidate from taking charge of Celtic.
It is a big job that requires a big character, ideally someone with experience of a similar role.
Keane has never managed in the UK.
All of his management experience is from Israel and Hungary. His Celtic experience consists of four months under Tony Mowbray and Neil Lennon.
The Bellamy option would push any appointment into next week.
On Saturday evening Wales play a friendly away to Romania. If there is no announcement this week it could be that the Bellamy option is more credible.
what a huge insult to O’neill although the shameless board have previous for this so the guy who bailed them out and won a double with no backing is getting pushed aside for a useless Desmond puppet
O’Neill would be my choice. I don’t think Keane or Bellamy would be a good option. Neither has much experience as a manager. Keane would also be divisive because of his history in Israeli football.
If Martin O’Neill wants the post, he should get it! He earned it! Keane couldn’t even win a league in a 1 horse race ffs never mind his ties to israhell
Personally I couldn’t care less that Keane managed in Isreal.
If he comes to Celtic all I want is for him to be a success.
It’s hardly an inspired choice by the suits but if they make that choice we just have to get behind him.
There’s enough people already in this angry hateful wee country that want us to fail without our own turning on the gaffer if it’s to be Keane.
You know what genocide is?, you know what the nazis did?, you’d be fine if our manager turned out for the hitler 11 back in the day?. Well i got news for you, this lot make the nazis look like sunday school teachers, and he’s out managing a club linkled directly to those commiting genocide. you heard of Nuremberg trials, you know what the outcome of those was?, you know international law says anyone not fighting them is aiding them?.
thats why.
ps talks ongoing-‘you Irish?’, you’ll piss off the Celtic fans, you’re in. No qualifications for the job whatsoever, and that without the genocide stuff should be enough.
Every single word seconded !
This is what we are being asked to swallow by these empty suits who somehow have a stranglehold on our club.
I renewed my book but with the caveat that I wouldn’t sit through another season like I did this season just gone.
They are absolutely clueless,and what’s worse is it seems they don’t feckin care who knows it !
Well said.
So you’ll bite your tongue, haud yir wheist while the golfing DD hires a divisive, under qualified choice because he’s Irish and played for the Club.
Couldn’t be any more of a lazy, jobs for the Bhoys selection when MON, has just rescued the Club. What a slap in the face that would be for MON.
We need to get someone in fu**in soon !
The whole problem here is Celtic fans,who all jumped in to renew their STs without knowing who or what the boards plans are ,now they’re whinging about possible managers, Desmond is a clever fucking guy ,he can read the gullible fans like a book,so he knows he will get away with whoever he decides gets the managers job,Christ he can even appoint Lenny again and what can the fans do about it? Fuck all they’ve already committed to desmond and his lackeys staying in charge,the Celtic fans deserve all they fucking get because once more at ST renewal they had the board by the baws but now once more desmond and his son and their ilk can go about there business in their ivory towers because the forelock tuggers have once again pulled the board out of the fire,jeez and we think sevco fans are mugs.under this board it will be more of the same like last season where we fluked our way to the league title.
It’s too late to complain now ,all the gullibes have snapped up the STs exactly as desmond and this board of chancers knew they would, who’s stupid the board or the fans,this board could bring back Nancy at there’s fuck all we can do about it,we had our chance to get at desmond and his yes men,now that’s gone, well done bhoys,kept this board in place, never mind we can always chuck some tennis balls in the pitch because that puts the fear in desmond,nicholson etc.