Site Staff 
The 2025/26 Scottish Premiership campaign has turned into a poor one for loyal Celtic fans, but it has been an absolutely intriguing one for those colours in the wider part of the country – but despite the frustrations, anger and disappointments that Hoops fans have had to endure, manager Martin O’Neill still has us in the hunt for yet another domestic top flight title.
The legendary and serial winning 74 year old former Northern Irish international midfielder has made two returns to Parkhead this season, first as Brendan Rodgers’ replacement when his own frustrations saw him walk, and then secondly as the replacement for basically unknown Wilfried Nancy – who had bizarrely first replaced him as caretaker despite boasting seven wins from his eight games in charge.
His fabulous work in his first spell had fans clamouring for Free bet offers as title hopes returned, but that was entirely undone before he returned home, and not only had the gap to top spot reappeared, O’Neill has more struggled this time around – picking up only 12 wins from 19 matches. With that said, we are through to the Scottish Cup semi final against St Mirren, and we had pulled ourselves back to within just three points of Heart of Midlothian after 32 games had been played.
Had it not been for a few avoidable hiccups we could have gone into the second phase group with a clear advantage, and few would have seen that happening even a matter of months ago.
With tensions, expectations and emotions still on a knife edge, having entered the second stage post split fixtures, we now know that we could face a potential rollercoaster of a final day of action as we have been paired (maybe predictably) with Hearts and if the league remains as tight as it is now, it could well be a title decider with no helicopter in sight.
The game has been set for Celtic Park on May 16 and if the title remains alive for that game, particularly after the ups and downs that have been suffered this season and the emotions that have been endured – well, it will be set to be a hell of an ultimate cracker with the home faithful in more passionate than usual voice.
After everything, not least the double return of our well liked serial winning gaffer in the most unexpected circumstances, it would be the perfect poetic rounding to the campaign that we have just had.
Hearts involvement this year has not been a flash in the pan. and yes whilst it can be better explained by how far off our standards the team were allowed to fall, you have to begrudgingly credit them for their consistency and how they have handled a pressure that few of their players would have been anticipating this year. On a wider front, it has also been great for the headlines and the profile of the domestic Scottish game – but with all that said that would make another title even sweeter given the circumstances.
The double is still on, time to grab it with both hands.
Image Source: unsplash.com
Eric Knott 
