Martin O’Neill’s contempt and disdain for those in the media is firmly established.
First time around at Celtic he was dealing with senior commanders that had dined out on the House of Murray. The great and the good that fed off succulent lamb at least on a weekly basis.
There were some memorable spats back in the day. Reevel Alderston and James Traynor spring to mind.
More than a few involved Neil Lennon and Scotland’s Shame- the hatred of Catholics, the Irish and especially Irish Catholics.
Generally there was an uneasy peace.
Back in the early years of the century both sides sort of needed each other. That internet thingy was for Bampots and Geeks. To be sneered at but not now.
It’s just MoN being MoN. He lulls people in with the old guy act but he’s always thinking
— Cart White (@djb_GB) July 12, 2026
Martin O’Neill Version II has returned to a new landscape at Celtic.
The Commanders have moved on, print sales of newspapers has almost evaporated, news is rolling, rapid and on your phone.
In 2002 around 15 different reporters covered Celtic’s pre-season trip to Austria. More than enough for a Backroom Staff v Press match to be played.
Twenty-four years later the Press side couldn’t raise a five-a-side team.
Bizarrely the Daily Record have two of their sharpest brains out in the Algarve. The Herald and Sun have one each. No Sunday papers are represented, a breed that is almost dead, no broadcasters.
THE ‘STRAINED’ RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARTIN O’NEILL AND THE MEDIA
Celtic Communications Manager Iain Jamieson has been doing the same job for almost 30 years. Trying to keep the papers sweet with access to fill those big spaces.
O’Neill probably thinks as highly of Jamieson as the hacks that he panders to.
With every comment from O’Neill you have to bear in mind that he has zero time or respect for whichever reporter is asking him questions.
Unfortunately in 2026 his every answer is available online with no context given.
Over the last few days Celtic fans have been informed that O’Neill thinks that Michael Nicholson is phoning the agents of Marcelo Sarachi and Kelechi Iheanacho ‘at this minute’.
At the same time Celtic fans know what is going on at Boca Juniors with Instagram giving daily updates of on the fitness of Iheanacho.
Fans know that Nicholson is a waste of £17,000 a week. A CEO terrified to speak to Gerry McCulloch. Who went into hiding when Birmingham were closing off a deal last summer on Yang Hyun-jun. A CEO that needs permission from a distant golf course before the most basic decisions can be passed off.
On Sunday Celtic’s favoured media partners had more news to dispense with.
In his usual manner O’Neill was dismissive of the appointment of Ross Grant. Almost all Celtic fans are pleased to see a set-piece specialist at the club.
O’Neill apparently had little to do with the appointment. Seems like Mark Fotheringham knows Grant and brought him to Celtic. Grant was at pre-season training on June 27, at 8.31 Celtic announced deals for Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney.
Not a good look Martin.
RED FLAG WARNINGS OVER CALLUM MCGREGOR
Towards the end of last season Callum McGregor delivered a very blunt message about his future. He had been left fighting fires as Nicholson sold off his best team-mates. More will go over the coming weeks.
At the time O’Neill dismissed the quotes as being lost in translation. Another old school deflection from 2002.
McGregor has switched agent recently. He has joined the United Sports Group, the same agency as Brendan Rodgers. An agency with strong ties to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Red flags are everywhere.
Apparently over two weeks of pre-season training there has been no discussion between O’Neill and his captain about his future intentions.
O’Neill told Celtic’s media partners that he might be speaking to McGregor in the coming days. Joking that if he doesn’t it will mean that all is well.
But apparently the prospect of McGregor leaving would be money driven! It wouldn’t.
If McGregor leaves it will be due to the downsizing of Celtic being driven by Nicholson and Chris McKay.
Supporters have been watching the decline since February 2025 in Munich. Or the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi the previous month.
On top of O’Neill’s claims that he was the reason for the late decisions on Shaun Maloney and Fotheringhan the Irishman is fast losing credibility.
Spinning some tales to reporters is a different business in 2026. Not that Jamieson would be able to discuss it with O’Neill.
Celtic fans watched pre-season with alarm last summer. Their concerns were vindicated, only a miracle from O’Neill prevented a Tynecastle title party.
Relying on miracles to be repeated is a very dangerous policy.
Celtic fans can see all of the signs with O’Neill getting drawn into the side of Nicholson and Brian Wilson. Not the side to be on.
He better get his arse into gear and get players in so far he’s looking more like a Desmond puppet with each day going past ,he knows 3 players are wanting away and will be cashed in for inferior crap or even better out of contract loanees
Martin was very very foolish to take the job on…
They’ll think f*ck all of throwing him under ten bloody buses to save their own skin !
It seems to be becoming apparent that the legend that is MON is very much the Human Shield for the Despot Billionaire who runs but doesn’t own Celtic and who’s taken millions out in dividends over the last 20 years and his Yes Men in Grey Suits on the board who enjoy the exorbitant wages, perks and jolly’s. MON needs to be mindful to protect his standing and his Legacy in the eyes of the Celtic Support, his employers Despot Dermot and Mute Mike will happily throw him overboard if he doesn’t toe the party line. Prepare for Sales of Engels, Maeda, Hatate, Nygrren and CMG generating £60m in sales which will give MON £12m to spend…..
Rubbish. Why would he tell those he has, as you claim, no respect for anything other than what suits him.
He is an idiot for taking back the role of coach or manager or whatever DD landed him with because its lose lose .
The Ministry of Pretence
While Colonel Bogey is staying out of range in the HQ bunker, we have O’Neill putting his head above the parapet, going over the top about the club’s amazing Blamestown Analytics – it is what it is, a future excuse, a smoke screen!
The rations of succulent spam fed to the senior press commanders and war correspondents by the dessert fox O’Neill hasn’t quite whet their appetite.
Charged with dereliction of duty, the man who never was MN is hunkered down in no man’s land trying to avoid the minefield of decisions a CEO is usually equipped to deal with, a company of executive profiteers frequently crawl out their burrows to sell the badge outfit to our faithfull brand of club supporters.
The all at sea Albert RN CEO seems to turn up on distant shores for roll call with another AWOL who likes nodding off, our poppy seed sowing allotment gardener, Chairman at ease Brian “what’s the point” Wilson. We all know the drill, we’re doomed!