Martin O’Neill continues to work through what everyone in the wider world of football expects to be his final season in charge at Parkhead following his title winning return (twice) in the 2025/26 campaign as he saved the blushes of the much maligned Celtic board following the decisions they made.
With the club sitting top of the Scottish Premiership table right now with a four point advantage over the nearest chasers, many in the faithful continue to wonder what will come at the end of April. There is a reported 12 month extension option built into the 74 year old’s current contract, but Celtic need to move forward and in many ways, it remains almost pointless for the Irishman to continue to tweak and reshape the squad for the future – when no Celtic fan knows what the future will hold, who the manager will be and what their playing preference is.
With the January transfer window soon to be on the horizon fans will again be looking to see how Making sense of odds on runners could help them as clubs inevitable switch up their options and it is now being claimed on the speculation rumour mill that another long term, and long standing, Celtic star will be departing come the New Year. Suggestions that Anthony Ralston will be moving on will not surprise many Celtic fans as the 27 year old, 29 capped Scottish international right sided full back, has fallen out of favour and is way down the manager’s pecking order at this moment in time. The former youth Academy graduate has only featured in three matches so far this season – European competition – and naturally has not even featured on the bench since mid September.
Speaking recently, former two time Celt, Charlie Mulgrew, stated that in his opinion Ralston was firmly headed for the departure door when the window next opened as given how far he had now been frozen out of O’Neill’s first team plans, he just did not see a way back now that would be meaningful to either side.
Whilst there will be those in the fan base who will debate whether or not allowing him to leave and cashing in during the January transfer window would be a good idea with one eye on the next man to occupy the dug out, the reliable backup right back may now believe that having enjoyed his spell at Parkhead for the last few seasons, it would now be time for him to move on and look for far more regular football action as he heads towards his 30’s and then the twilight of his playing career.
Having barely broken through the 100 starting appearance mark for the club since coming through as a youth and originally making his club debut way back in the 2015/16 campaign, he has more than played his part as a loyal alternative option from the substitutes bench when needed. There would be very few indeed who begrudged him the opportunity to now look towards pastures new and get himself the match minutes that his attitude, and commitment alone, deserves.
Should Mulgrew be right and Ralston does now move on, there will be even higher expectations for young talent Colby Donovan, but Celtic continue to have high hopes for the 20 year old given how quickly he has moved through the ranks and established himself in the side in Alistair Johnson’s continued absence.
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