GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 28: Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill during a Celtic MD-1 press conference at the Lennoxtown Training Centre, on January 28, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Stephen McGowan believes that Martin O’Neill will decide whether or not he stays on as Celtic manager.
Three defeats in eight days followed by a 21 day international break has led to speculation that there will be a change in manager.
O’Neill added to that on Sunday when he told his post-match media conference that he would immediately go into self reflection.
More than 48 hours on from the Derby defeat there has been no word out of Celtic over a change.
Fans are looking in various directions for pointers over what is going on.
Roy Keane’s appearance at Sunday’s match added to the number of WhatsApp rumours flying around.
MCGOWAN GIVES INSIDE TRACK ON CELTIC
Over more than 20 years McGowan has delivered very accurate commentary on what is going on inside Celtic.
Speaking on the Radio Scotland Football Podcast McGowan said:
And I’m sure Martin O’Neill will have spoken to Dermot Desmond, who has no intention of pulling the trigger himself.
I think there’s no question of Celtic expediting this process. So it will be entirely down to Martin and where he feels about it.
After two stints as Interim Manager last season O’Neill became permanent manager on June 11.
Following the first pre-season friendly against Shelbourne Camilo Duran became the first close season signing on July 10.
After Daizen Maeda was sold to Ipswich Celtic signed Kasper Hogh from Bodo Glimt in time for the SPFL Premiership opener against Dundee.
Days ahead of selling Arne Engels to West Ham Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan were signed.
The new boys came off the bench away to Dundee United with their first experience of Celtic Park coming in the 3-0 win over LASK.
What happened in the return leg looks like casting a shadow over the entire season.
Celtic ‘bounced back’ to win four SPFL Premiership matches but a critical eight day period was looming.
Post LASK Celtic spent £3.5m on a Dutch teenager that has yet to play plus four loan signings and picking up the Feyenoord contract of Jordan Lotomba.
Those signings have barely made an impact.
O’Neill’s post match comments from Sunday leaves Celtic in limbo.
Pre-match media activities return on October 9 with fans likely to be left trying to interpret comments from reporters like McGowan to piece together a picture of what is going on.
Martin – DO NOT TRUST ANY OF THE GRAY B*ASTARDS !