Three weeks ago Celtic announced the appointment of Martin O’Neill as manager. Followed by a Brian Wilson ‘update’.
It seemed to be a reaction to stories emerging about problems over the deals for Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.
The announcement was no surprise. Six days earlier Celtic’s media partners at the Daily Record, Sun and Herald had simultaneously announced the appointment. Right down to a 12 month contract.
There was no in-house interview with O’Neill about how wonderful everything is and how happy he was to get the job.
Naturally there wasn’t a peep out of Michael Nicholson. The Celtic CEO hasn’t been heard since December when he was sharing his exciting plans to back Wilfied Nancy in the transfer market.
The Celtic CEO hasn’t been heard of during 2026.
Nicholson and Brian Wilson are both on record with their aims to improve fan engagement. And communications.
WILSON GASLIGHTING ON HIS MONTHLY SUPPORTERS UPDATE
On the day of O’Neill’s announcement Wilson was interviewed by Gerry McCulloch for Celtic TV.
It is the definition of an underwhelming combination. Wilson looked like he had been dragged off his allotment.
McCulloch puts on his fake enthusiasm. He sounded more of a natural 20 years ago on his shopping channels.
As a former Labour MP Wilson has a lifetime of experience of deflecting from the issues, not telling the truth and restraining his contempt for the audience.
Asked by McCulloch about backing O’Neill in the transfer market Chairman Wilson said:
Absolutely, and that is very much part of the basis on which he’s wanted to come back, and we’ve wanted him to come back.
It’s going to be a very active next few weeks, and we must come out of it with a stronger squad.
Three weeks on no-one has been signed.
A shadow squad has been training at Lennoxtown.
Celtic appear to have even lost interest in dropping stories of transfer interest to their small core of compliant media sources.
The first friendly is five days away against Shelbourne.
The team sheet will test the knowledge of even the most committed of fans. Some will pass it off as O’Neill giving youth a chance.
Celtic start the SPFL campaign on August 3 at home to Dundee.
They have three competitive matches before naming their squad for the Champions League Play Off. The £40m matches are played on August 18/19 and 25/26.
It seems that Nicholson and Wilson will send O’Neill into those matches as ill-prepared as Brendan Rodgers was a year ago.
Those pesky anti-establishment fans know all of the signs to look out for.
It is beyond farce now?
That image of Wilson above just sums it up:
Wilson is the public face of a “world class” run football club!
Shaping up already to be another looooong season ahead.
A Labour and therefore by dint of such shame – A Butchers Apron loving bas*tard…
Why is anyone surprised !
The ones running Celtic are a total embarrassment to the club. It’s like going back to the days of the Kelly’s and the white family. We will be bargain shopping soon for loan deals or free agents. For being the wealthiest club in Scottish football Celtic should be out of sight but once again supporters who hand over their money are let down.