1st November 2026; Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Falkirk versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin ONeill speaks to Celtic TV
Jonathan Burns delivered a brutal assessment on Celtic’s coaches during the 2-0 defeat at Falkirk.
The son of former Celtic boss Tommy is as big a fan of the club as his late father.
Burns Junior coaches Boston Bolts and is Executive Director of North American Association of Scottish Coaches. A network of ex-pats working across the USA and Canada, wired in to worldwide coaching and trying to find the missing edge to make their teams successful through coaching.
Looking from the outside Celtic are a shambles.
They are on a run of winning three matches in their last 10.
In 35th place out of 36 in the Europa League, on the back of four successive defeats in European competition.
European coaches know how to exploit Celtic. At the heart is a midfield that just doesn’t function. They don’t supply the strikers, they don’t support the defenders.
CELTIC- THE MANAGED DECLINE
LASK Linz exposed Celtic brutally. Followed up by Derek McInnes, twice, either side of a defeat from Ferencvaros.
Now Jim Goodwin and John McGlynn have shown the way for journeymen SPFL coaches with journeymen squads of players.
There appears to be a complete breakdown between Martin O’Neill, his coaches and the players. If they are in unison the situation becomes even more concerning.
Other than 19 matches at Nottingham Forest O’Neill had been out of club management for 12 years when he came in as interim Celtic manager a year ago.
Even in his prime O’Neill wasn’t a coach. He was a manager, a motivator giving John Robertson and Steve Walford full reign on the training ground. Two guys that he had worked with for years.
At Celtic he was presented with Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham.
The Professional Pathway Manager, B team joint manager and the incredibly self confident former Huddersfield manager.
Over two short concentrated spells last season Celtic got away with it. The best of the dross that floats around Scottish football.
With no competent manager prepared to work inside the Celtic infrastructure O’Neill got the job for another year. An hour before pre-season started Maloney, McManus and Fotheringham were confirmed as the coaching team.
They have run their race. Being shown up and exposed by clubs with far lesser resources.
After today’s defeat O’Neill told Sky Sports that Celtic remain on top of the SPFL Premiership.
Never before has the benchmark been lower.
With Michael Nicholson deep in denial the next question is how many will Besiktas win by on Thursday as they visit European football’s favourite tourist attraction.
@twistandturns_J Winger that can’t score or can’t assist
— John McElhinney (@JohnMcElhinney) November 1, 2026
Should Celtic sack Martin O'Neill and his coaching staff?
NO- Keep the faith, trust the process
YES- The club is clueless at every level
Of course, getting rid of MON and coaches now does not guarantee success
for the rest of the season – but it could give us change, improvements and a significantly better chance of success?
And be better positioned, possibly, for next season?
If the Board decides not to make a decision,
(which should have been taken during the last international break),
then we’re guaranteed a continuation of this awful, declining season.
And it could have a knock-on effect to next season preparations…?
Twice Osmand has started on the left wing and been hooked at half-time. Why Jota couldn’t play on that surface today (unless he was injured again and couldn’t even make the matchday squad) but Johnston was risked at Hibs and subsequently injured just sums up the absurdity of decision making from the ‘coaching’ staff. All shocking and all must go. If a manager isn’t in and around the training pitch then what is he doing all week to justify his salary?