With just over 48 hours to go till the start of pre-season training Celtic appear to be down three key members of their coaching staff.
On Tuesday West Brom announced the arrival of Gavin Strachan as their first team coach. Following six years at Celtic.
Last season Strachan was joined on the training field at Lennoxtown by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.
The signed off last season by raising the Scottish Cup at Hampden alongside Martin O’Neill.
As it stands pre-season training looks like being a very lonely experience for O’Neill. Perhaps with just Stephen McManus for company.
It is well known throughout football that O’Neill isn’t a tracksuit manager. He leaves the training ground to others.
Previously John Robertson and Steve Walford. More recently Strachan, Maloney and Fotheringham.
Last season Brian Wilson and Michael Nicholson acknowledged that Celtic need to improve on communications and supporter engagement.
They have done nothing of the sort.
CELTIC A CLUB THAT IS COMPLETELY LEADERLESS
The club CEO has been hiding behind his £17,000 a week salary since he appointed Wilfried Nancy.
Wilson gaslights fans one a month with a Supporters Update. It is about as genuine as the promises of a Labour politician.
O’Neill’s return appointment was announced 13 days ago by Celtic. Not a single word has been heard since then by the manager.
His comments are as rare as the arrival of new players.
What sort of player wants to join Celtic? A club leaderless in every area.
This is the outcome of Nicholson and Wilson. Doing as little as possible on the instructions of Celtic’s biggest shareholder.
Thank goodness it only took them a few months to agree a deal with two Celtic fans who would give anything to be at the club. Bodes well.
— Donald (@answer_me_this8) June 19, 2026
O’Neill is unlikely to go in front of Gerry McCulloch to tell him how wonderful things are, how happy he is.
Callum McGregor will be keeping a low profile.
Putting any player up to speak to the media will be an act of cruelty. Putting them in front of Gerry McCulloch or any of the in-house media team to discuss their summer holiday and favourite colour would be taking things way too far.
O’Neill is being led to the cliff edge by Celtic.
Forcing through changes or calling things out are the only realistic options he has.
Such is the club’s reputation that it may be too late to force through changes.
No competent CEO, Director of Football or Recruitment specialist is going to work in an environment where an elderly golfer has the final say on every meaningful decision.
Trying to throw the league again