BOLOGNA, ITALY - JANUARY 22: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill waves to the travelling Celtic fans at full time during a UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna and Celtic at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, on January 22, 2026, in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill was posted missing last night as the Celtic Foundation held their Annual Gala Dinner in London last night.
Shebahn Aherne hosted the event at the Four Seasons Hotel near Tower Bridge as the Celtic executives gathered for an evening of self congratulations.
In the past it has been traditional for the first team manager to be present.
At the 2024 dinner Brendan Rodgers met with Kieran Tierney a few months ahead of Celtic signing a pre-contract deal with the defender.
Kieran Tierney was present at Celtic’s Annual Gala Dinner in London yesterday evening. ????????
The former captain was joined by his former boss, Brendan Rodgers in the capital. ?? pic.twitter.com/fPiT6JDdE8
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) October 12, 2024
Tellingly, last year Rodgers was posted missing with Gordon Strachan stepping in to deliver some hilarious tales about his time as Celtic manager. Three weeks later Rodgers resigned.
Last night’s dinner was the opportunity to toast the dramatic 25/26 SPFL Premiership title success.
O’Neill has been a regular guest at the event down the years but for whatever reasons he opted out of being seen socially with Michael Nicholson and Brian Wilson.
The Foundation website reports:
Over 150 guests attended the special gathering in the stunning Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge – including a host of former Celts in Joe Hart, Scott Brown, Stiliyan Petrov, Brian McClair, Paul Elliott and Joe Ledley, as well as rock and roll icon, Sir Rod Stewart.
The Gala was hosted by Shebahn Aherne and included a fantastic set from Heather Small, the sensational voice behind 90s dance group, M People.
Guests were also treated to live music from Gala regulars, the Troubadours, who made their way around the tables, providing their own unique brand of entertainment and there was also a set from iconic Irish music group, the Dublin Legends, who belted out a number of Irish folk classics, getting guests on their feet and singing along.
Former Celtic goalkeeper, Joe Hart, took part in a fantastic Q&A segment, as he shared numerous stories and memories from his playing career, including his hugely successful three-year spell at Celtic.
? What a night!
Our London Gala Dinner raised a phenomenal total in excess of £760,000!
Thank you to everyone who helped make it such an incredible evening. Your generosity will make a huge difference to so many lives ?
Read more: https://t.co/f7egWvA3MO pic.twitter.com/Fohbgl4xBO
— Celtic FC Foundation (@FoundationCFC) September 25, 2026
PRESSURE PILES UP ON CELTIC MANAGER MARTIN O’NEILL
After three defeats in eight days O’Neill admitted that he would be spending the start of the international break self reflection.
He also joked that he would be 110 in two years time then went on to recall an imaginary conversation with Mick Jagger.
In keeping with his five years as CEO Nicholson has been avoiding responsibility for the dismal start to the season.
Celtic have already been knocked out of the Champions League and League Cup.
After losing their opening Europa League tie to Ferencvaros Celtic face an unforgiving run of fixtures in that competition against Benfica, Celta Vigo and Beskitas.
On Tuesday Celtic released their Annual Report for 2026 where the blame for failures was piled on Brendan Rodgers.
Chairman Wilson was taken by surprise despite Dermot Desmond explaining that contract talks had been ongoing for 10 months.
Wilson is of course a lifelong Labour politician.
One former Celtic manager could have made an appearance at the Gala Dinner. It seems that no-one at the club wishes to remember Wilfried Nancy’s 33 days in charge.
NOTE: It seems that Aherne has been forgiven for her joke about having a Manager of the Season Award at the 25/26 Celtic Awards night.
Speaking later on the Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly Podcast Aherne said that joke went down like a sh*te sandwich.
We seek him here,We seek him there… The Scarlett Pimpernel of Scottish football.
He is possibly under strict instructions from DD & Son to hide until the temperature at Paradise has dropped!
Any friends of DD & Son should be nowhere near our Beautiful team Celtic.
Not One Penny More Until Desmond & Son are out the Door.
Interesting that Mute Mike was AWOL….LEST WE FORGET THE SOUP KITCHEN OF1888
LET US GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS
We seek him here,We seek him there… The Scarlett Pimpernel of Scottish football.
He is possibly under strict instructions from DD & Son to hide until the temperature at Paradise has dropped!
Any friends of DD & Son should be nowhere near our Beautiful team Celtic.
Not One Penny More Until Desmond & Son are out the Door.
Interesting that Mute Mike was AWOL….LEST WE FORGET THE SOUP KITCHEN OF1888
LET US GET BACK TO OUR ROOTS
Heard all this not one penny more over and over year after year day after day. But everyone shits themselves and buys season tickets and merchandise.
Editor: Merch income has been hammered, check the 2026 Annual Report for confirmation. They used to have their own category. Now Merch has been merged elsewhere.
They’ll never change….