So much so that he referred to the elderly Irish businessman as ‘the owner’ of Celtic.
O’Neill used that phrase after the Scottish Cup Final in May when he was asked about his future.
Clearly that wasn’t a slip or a mistake. O’Neill believes that Desmond is the owner.
Celtic is a PLC with a Board of Directors, Chairman and CEO.
Desmond is the largest individual shareholder with around 34% of the shares in the club.
He hasn’t attended an AGM since 2006. At the 2025 AGM he sent his son Ross along to read out a highly critical attack on the Celtic support which led to Chairman Peter Lawwell abandoning with AGM after less than one hour.
O’Neill attended the AGM as interim manager and felt that it was fair that Ross Desmond delivered his speech.
Of more pressing concern to the Celtic support is the unfolding of the latest transfer window shambles.
Last summer was bad forcing the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.
THE BLIND FAITH OF MARTIN O’NEILL
O’Neill overseen another disaster in January with five loan arrivals that left barely making any impact.
Eighteen days before the start of the SPFL Celtic have signed one player.
O’Neill has openly spoken about Daizen Maeda, Ben Nygren, Arne Engels and Reo Hatate leaving during the current transfer window.
Most fans would be surprised if no bids come in for Alistair Johnston and Auston Trusty.
O’Neill was announced as Celtic’s permanent manager on June 11. It seems that he took on the job without any reassurances over transfers.
Speaking to Celtic’s media partner The Sun O’Neill said:
I just didn’t seek any. I can’t turn around and say, by the way, you need to get me 12 players and if you only get ten then you’ve broken the trust or something.
No, not necessarily. Maybe it’s the fact I’ve known the owner of the football club for some time and I genuinely believe he will help when trying to get things over the line. Let me put it that way.
O’Neill always takes simple issues to extremes.
No manager discusses exact transfer numbers.
But anyone looking at Celtic would have said that they must sign two strikers and two wingers. For starters.
And that replacements for those departing should have been lined up for the first week of the transfer window. Deals should have been agreed with Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
After that you would look to add to and strengthen the squad. Celtic currently have a bank balance of £70-100m
Offers for Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels were rejected on the final day of the summer and January windows.
Only a complete fool would expect a full season of complete commitment from players denied the option to treble their wages or more.
O’Neill is likely to be speaking to the media again on Friday, no doubt offering up the same excuses for the failure to bring in new signings.
@Joe – I am a fan of your site, but please remain respectful to MON – he’s a club legend and we please shouldn’t use adjectives like ‘feeble’ when referring to him. Much obliged.
Editor: Fawning over anyone at Celtic is for other websites. If O’Neill refers to Desmond as owner that is feeble. Why does O’Neill choose to use this type of language.
He knew exactly what he was signing up for and agreed for the salary.
MON is unfortunately in danger of totally destroying his Legend status and it makes no sense at all.
Not asking you to fawn, just be respectful to a club legend.
DD is the largest holder of the ordinaries by a distance but when you also consider his holdings of the preferred ordinary shares and the convertibles, he is the economic owner of Celtic PLC, whether we like it or not.
Editor: DD is absolutely not the owner. We know that Martin O’Neill feels that he ought to be forever grateful to Dermo.
Events from 2000 to 2005 don’t give you a lifetime free pass. DD is long past his usefulness to Celtic, alas O’Neill looks as if he is closing in on that status.