GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 11: : Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson during a UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic and AS Roma at Celtic Park, on December 11, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Stephen McGowan’s update on the search for the next Celtic manager claims that Martin O’Neill is the front runner for the job.
Last week, following the Scottish Cup Final win seemed to pass without any significant development on the ‘vacancy’.
Technically O’Neill remains the man in charge, that has been the case since his return on January 5 following the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.
Almost five months should have given the club ample time to identify candidates but it seems that O’Neill’s success has complicated the issue.
Late on Monday afternoon Sky Sports News reported that talks had been held with O’Neill and Robbie Keane. Interestingly in his account McGowan brought Craig Bellamy into the equation.
MCGOWAN WITH THE INSIDE TRACK AT CELTIC
McGowan, now at the Herald/Newsquest has a long track record of being closest to the news inside Celtic Park.
Writing in the Herald he delivered an update on Monday’s developments:
O’Neill remains the apparent frontrunner for the post after opening talks with Desmond over another year or two in charge.
The interim boss is taking time to consider his position after completing a league and cup double and the two men will speak again this week. Agreement on the final details have yet to be thrashed out.
Keane held discussions over the role last night while Bellamy was prepared to utilise former boss O’Neill as an experienced sounding board if he landed the post, but now appears to have pledged his commitment to Wales ahead of the Euro 2028 finals.
Tellingly the talks are focussed around Desmond.
A Non Executive Director appears to be in the driving seat rather than the club CEO.
Michael Nicholson was clearly behind the appointment of Nancy, since the Frenchman was sacked Celtic fans have barely heard from Nicholson.
Appointing a manager is essential for the rebuild expected over the close season.
Four current players have renewed contracts over the last month but that is mainly a holding operation.
Significant additions are expected with the clock ticking away to the start of the new season.
In two months time the SPFL season gets underway. No pre-season plans have been announced, seven players are at the World Cup. They could be out of bounds deep into July.
On August 19 and 26 Celtic face a Champions League Play Off. Last season the shadow of Kairat Almaty refused to move on.
Keane resigned as manager of Ferencvaros on May 22, on the eve of the Scottish Cup Final.
After managing in Israel and Hungary it seems natural that his next job will be in the UK.
Whether that is at Celtic appears dependent on O’Neill.
Twice last season he gave rapid answers to coming in as interim manager, this time it appears that there is more involved in the decision, from both parties.
Natural that his next job would be in the UK?, why would that be?. Maybe having managed in two of the worlds leading fascist countries, the UK seems like a natural fit, they are after all a leading light in the ongoing genocide. We are certainly building our fascist credentials in the UK, beating up pensioner peaceful protestors, while also arresting Jewish protestors for antisemitism. Add in the rolling out of facial recognition around the country, and digital IDs, and yeah, he’d fit right in, to our nascent Police State.
Editor: Any word yet on charges or convictions for ‘beating up pensioner peaceful protestor’ or just another makey up story created inside Celtic Park?
Disgraceful antisemitism masquerading as a football comment.
Jim @ 11.31pm…
Definitely a facicst country is The UK for sure…
We need Scotland to be INDEPENDENT and sooner rather than later…
But what fu**in hope does one have when a big Celtic supporting catchment area like Dumbarton puts Butchers Apron loving fu**ers like Labour in Political Power !
For the sake of Martin’s health I hope he sails off into the dugout sunset…
A lesser role like chairman might be a good position for him…
Also – Why risk his LEGENDARY 2026 LEGACY which is awesome…
Because he won’t be backed by these B*astards anyway !
The proliferation of antisemitism on Celtic blog sites is a disgusting antithesis of the club’s ethos.
A Hun is made up of three parts: 1. Bigotry. 2. Hatred. 3. Not actually interested in the football (club) per se, it’s merely exploited as a vehicle for the first two.