Martin O’Neill was the first person Dermot Desmond thought to call to manage Celtic? That shows us what limited options he now has…
Eric Knott 
Action Images / John Sibley Livepic
I’m sure today that there any many Celtic fans out there, especially of my generation, who feel all nostalgic at the thoughts of Martin O’Neill standing on the sideline tomorrow night.
I don’t know about you, but for me, nostalgia is as far as it goes.
Seeing him there tomorrow night will bring back many amazing memories.
But that’s what they are, memories.
The dreamer in me would love to see him turn this around, and deliver an all round successful season for Celtic in the wake of the destruction we see all around us now.
That’s the dreamer in me.
The realist in me sees this in a much different light.
O’Neill is 73 years of age.
He hasn’t managed since his ill-fated stint at Nottingham Forest back in 2019 with Roy Keane.
That is coming up on 7 years ago now.
When he left Forest, he would have been 66 years old.
Most managers in the modern game are in the twilight of their careers at that stage.
None of us would have expected to see him back in football management after that, let alone at Celtic for a second time.
Dermot Desmond himself is of a similar age to O’Neill, being just two years his senior.
It is telling that when Desmond wanted someone to step into the breach at Celtic, O’Neill was the first person that came to mind.
This was an appointment very much driven by nostalgia from Desmond’s perspective.
Because it wasn’t a footballing decision.
Expecting a man in his 70’s who has been retired from the game for almost 7 years to come in and turn around the shitshow that Celtic has become, is asking an awful lot of that man.
In fact, it could also contribute towards destroying his lasting legacy at the club as well.
Maybe that’s something O’Neill himself should have thought about himself?
Before he allowed his heart to rule over his head?
It is telling that Desmond approached O’Neill because in his own mind, he probably knew that the former Celtic manager would not refuse his offer.
Yes, I understand that it may be just as interim manager, but we’ve learned not to trust this board in the past when it comes to interim appointments.
Once bitten, twice shy, and all of that.
But in putting O’Neill in that position, and probably knowing that he wouldn’t say no, Desmond gave no thought to the consequences of this being an unmitigated disaster.
Nor did he even think about the damage it could do to O’Neill’s legacy at Celtic.
Don’t get me wrong, I want O’Neill to succeed in his role, however long it may be.
But what I do not want is his legacy at Celtic to be destroyed by this decision.
The thing is, Desmond has chosen put O’Neill in this position.
If it fails spectacularly, then Desmond has a duty of care to O’Neill to ensure that he takes responsibility for this appointment’s failings.
Do you trust Desmond to wield the axe on O’Neill if he can’t turn things around?
Would you trust him to take accountability if it’s a complete failure?
I wouldn’t.
Especially after what I witnessed in his deranged statement last night.
The fact that Martin O’Neill was the only person he could think to turn to when the club is in a major hour of need tell us how limited Desmond’s options are.
With the addition of Shaun Maloney, of course, who was a shoe in to get a role of some description regardless.
Well, either his options are limited, or his scope of thought is limited.
If it’s the latter, then that’s extremely concerning.
Because if a man who has amassed billions during his career as a businessman could only go so far as to think of Martin O’Neill, then maybe he should retire to the golf course on a permanent basis?
If it’s the former, then he clearly understands that his options are limited because of the reputational damage that has been done to Celtic since the turn of this year.
And I doubt that’s the case.
Because of course, he and his board believe they are doing a sterling job at Celtic.
Martin O’Neill is a hero of mine, I have so many fantastic memories of his time at Celtic.
I really do hope he can create more of them.
And as with any Celtic manager, I will want him to be successful and I’ll back him all the way.
But my gut instinct is that this is an appointment that might not turn out to be the lovely, nostalgic trip down memory lane many would wish it to be.
In would say that O’Neill spoke okay today in his press conference, but overall, there was almost an element of him looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
That in itself is concerning.
Maybe O’Neill himself realises that he’s bitten off more than he could chew?
That he could just become more collateral damage in all of this.
Well, he couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to his second stint at Celtic, could he?
Falkirk, amidst a planned protest by the fans, followed by the Ibrox side at Hampden.
Poor results in both of those fixtures will ensure that any nostalgia surrounding this appointment fades away very quickly.
And I can guarantee you this much, there is not a single Celtic fan out there who wants to turn on Martin O’Neill.
Because if he fails, I won’t hold him responsible.
No, I will hold the man who couldn’t think of anyone better to call responsible.
Hubris and nostalgia led to this appointment.
If it turns out to be a success, I will be extremely surprised.
But I just can’t see it happening.
Can you?
Key Takeaways
- Nostalgia surrounds Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic, but many question the wisdom of the appointment.
- At 73, O’Neill hasn’t managed since 2019, raising concerns about his ability to turn the club around.
- Dermot Desmond’s decision seems driven by sentiment rather than strategic planning, risking O’Neill’s legacy.
- If the appointment fails, accountability may fall on Desmond rather than O’Neill, who deserves support regardless of outcomes.
- Fans fear that unrealistic expectations and poor performance could tarnish O’Neill’s status as a Celtic legend.
This is a rush job. I really want Martin to succeed but this is just papering over the cracks & Desmond and his cronies are to blame for turning our club into a shitshow. Wouldn’t trust any of them. #BOARDOUT
So much to unpack Eric. I seem to remember MON sort of half defended DD when he was talking some weeks back, can’t remember the context but it was after the recruitment summer joke. I thought then that it went against what we all could see (inept executive team) but also assumed it was that he’d left things on good terms with DD etc.
I wasn’t surprised BR hasn’t yet responded; he will perhaps want to either land a new gig or at least have one in the offing then he can give his side but after that evisceration by DD (and I’m sure calm doon helped write the context as DD just hears what he wants from his ever loyal exec team). And did the Collective not say that the ceo more or less said that final decisions are, what, emailed to……is it DD or PL or someone? That alone is an embarrassment, imagine a ceo having to check with the real boss(es) what he’s allowed to spend his pocket money on.
I think we all more or less hold Martin in high regard but it reminds me of the Barnes season, when Dalgleish had to then almost reluctantly steady the ship, until the great season that followed. I’m not comparing like for like, just that like KD, we have a caretaker we hold no ill will against but ultimately, I don’t think that it will embolden us to do amazing things in Europe for example, let alone the league. Any manager coming in still hasn’t a RW, still has two senior defensive players crocked and only 1 winger who’s at the races already. Plus a crocked makeshift striker in Daizen and no backup worth getting excited about. Perhaps when everyone sees how another manager ‘manages’ what he’s been left with, the penny will drop – what the one common denominator has been (the board and the sons of other figures – Mark and Gavin etc).
mn should be nowhere near the running of a club but change will start if PL goes. That is key; he spends more on Ambre Solaire than the player budget! I think we’re stuck with DD; he’s too financially entrenched to be shifted quickly. But I think if PL goes, it could open the door to a more neutral figure. Someone who has no loyalty to mn and is happy to see a better exec running our club properly.
Hard for us as we’re emotionally invested. And what do you make of Balikwisha’s deleted post? Was that in defence or attack of BR? Kennedy deserves peace; a role as assistant or no.1, where he can work freely, without scrutiny. Ah jaysus. HH
MON is a legend but unfortunately the majority of Celtic supporters see this as the beard it is by the owner.
Dermot Desmond owns Celtic. It’s his ball and he does anything he likes with it. I mean Jesus he’s appointed the last few Celtic Managers! He offered WGS the job in the Guinness Tent at Cheltenham for goodness sake! And that was before he went on and recruited MON for the job!!
Maloney was recruited to replace Brendan. They’ve put him in as they always intended to.,MON is, sadly, the beard to soften the appointment of Maloney. Maloney will be so badly out of his depth things will probably get worse. Lose tonight and on Sunday and, given January will be limbo, the season has gone.
Brendan will keep his counsel but, John Kennedy? A penny for your thoughts John?
Desmond does NOT OWN CELTIC. He is merely the biggest shareholder, NOT EVEN a majority shareholder. He has no business interfering in club affairs. He is NOT an employee. Like any shareholder, he can only make suggestions at the AGM. The majority shareholding is held by the fans.
Quite frankly, Desmond is a despot and a dictator in the real sense. This was NOT what Fergus wanted and he WAS the owner, when he left and handed it over to the fan base. This shyster Desmond is a fraud and the fans who do nothing and accept this without question are all guilty. Allowing him to dictate like this is self harming. No good can come of this and Celtic will die a slow death.
I dearly hope the Celtic Collective, who have the Club at heart, can remove him and the rest of the frauds at the club.