The media says that Keane and O’Neill are the final two candidates for the Celtic job – let’s get one thing straight, there were no other candidates…
Eric Knott 
Ferencvaros' Irish coach Robbie Keane grimaces before the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between SC Braga and Ferencvaros at Municipal stadium of Braga on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP via Getty Images)
Right, for anybody out there who thinks there were any more candidates lined up for the Celtic job other than Martin O’Neill and Robbie Keane, I’d suggest you think again.
Martin O’Neill is in the frame because he’s the easy option.
If he refuses, plan B is for the even easier option, Robbie Keane.
We know Keane is Dermot Desmond’s choice because of his nationality, not because of his skill set.
It is a long, long time since there has been a serious managerial hunt at Celtic.
And by that, I mean a proper recruitment drive where several candidates have been interviewed for the job.
We’re also being told that Robbie Keane wants his backroom team to be Scott Brown and Johnny Hayes.
Scott Brown is designed to soften the blow of hiring Keane.
What Johnny Hayes brings to the table is beyond me, I guess he’s Irish too.
Martin O’Neill is taking his time on this, and I sincerely doubt it’s a case of give us your answer, or else.
He was given no time to think about the job last season, when Desmond gave him ten minutes to make up his mind.
The Celtic legend at least deserves enough respect to be given the time to think about staying on after delivering the double.
But believe me, O’Neill and Keane are it.
There was never anybody else in the frame for the Celtic job.
The majority of Celtic fans do not want Keane, myself included.
We know that Keane would be a very divisive choice, and we also know that it would be done to antagonise the support.
A power play, as it were.
Desmond’s way of showing everybody that he’s in charge, and we just have to suck it up.
Personally, I don’t think Keane has enough experience to be taking on a job the size of the Celtic job.
Yes, he has won League titles in two countries.
One of those countries is the reason many Celtic fans are loathe to see him at Celtic Park.
At Ferencváros, Keane took over midway through the 2024-25 season and went on to win the Hungarian top flight.
He failed to win it in the 2025-26 season, losing out to a club the size of Kilmarnock.
He did, however, manage to secure the Magyar Kupa, the Hungarian Cup.
One way or the other, we will find out in the next few days who the next Celtic manager is going to be.
You can be pretty much guaranteed it will be either Keane or Martin O’Neill.
If you were to ask me my preference, I would honestly have to say Martin O’Neill.
I do not want Robbie Keane as the Celtic manager, simply because I do not think he ticks all of the boxes to be a Celtic manager.
Oh, he ticks Dermot Desmond’s box alright, simply because he’s Irish.
A club of our size and stature should be aiming much higher than somebody like Robbie Keane.
We should also be aiming much higher than Martin O’Neill.
Expecting a 74 year old to manage a club of Celtic’s size is a big ask, especially with the pressures that come with that.
At this moment in time, there are only four other managers in club football in their 70’s.
That’s Roy Hodgson – Bristol City, Claudio Ranieri – Roma, Manual Pellegrini – Real Betis, and Jorge Jesus – Al Hilal.
Should Martin O’Neill agree to take on the Celtic job, that will be five.
None of the above named clubs are clubs where it is pre-requisite to win at all times.
This is why the pressure is much more intense at a job like Celtic.
I don’t doubt that O’Neill could handle it, but I’m just not sure the pressure would be good for his health were we to have another season as close as the last.
What frustrates me in all of this process, is knowing no other candidates were considered.
The minute Keane left Ferencváros, we all knew Desmond would home in on him.
The reality here is this, either Martin O’Neill or Robbie Keane will be the Celtic manager by the end of this week.
What is disappointing is that really, no other candidates were considered.
O’Neill was the easy option.
No great deal of thinking or effort required from the board.
He has been given the time to think about the role.
Keane is plan B.
Desmond’s man.
No great thinking or effort involved here either.
If O’Neill says no, Keane is our man.
My gut is telling me Martin O’Neill will say no.
Then we are just left with Desmond’s power play after that.
And the subsequent fall out that comes with that.
Key Takeaways
- Martin O’Neill and Robbie Keane are the only candidates considered for the Celtic manager position.
- O’Neill is the preferable choice, but Keane’s Irish nationality seems to influence Desmond’s consideration.
- The lack of a serious recruitment process is concerning, with no other candidates being interviewed.
- Many fans express discontent with Keane’s potential appointment, seeing it as a divisive choice.
- The ultimate decision on the next Celtic manager will likely be made soon, with O’Neill possibly declining the role.
Choose Read Celtic as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Your spot on Eric it was predictable and total laziness and unambitious from Desmond and his puppets Keane will be another puppet.incidentally Eric what’s happening with The Trinity Tims podcast nowhere to be seen last night
Hi Plunge, we’ve made a clean break with the platform we had been using previously. This was the one causing us all the problems. We’ve changed to a new platform now, but we were informed it wouldn’t be ready until next Monday’s podcast. So we’ll be back on air from next Monday again.
If it’s Keane he will be supported as DD won’t want to fuck up two appointments in a row.
It’s the very inexperienced back room team that concerns me more.
Lennon and Delia had less experience than Keane when they were appointed but they won several trophies between them and reached CL last 16.
I think you’ll find that it’s the fact that Keane has managed in 2 of the worlds most fascist states, and not just his affinity for the proponents of genocide, that will trouble any right thinking Celtic supporter. Apart from coming no where near what Celtic need football wise, the man clearly has no morals, right up Desmond’s street, and he fulfills that most cherished of Desmond ‘abilities’, he’s Irish.
With the UK being a more than willing participant in the ongoing genocide, their rolling out of facial recognition and digital IDs , putting us well on the road to becoming a Police State, Keane should feel right at home.
As for me, and a few I know, if Keane gets the job, I’ll be taking a step back from Celtic, at least until he is gone, and hope against hope, Desmond too.
Just how contemptible can Desmond and his cabal be to consider appointing Robbie Keane who worked in Israel a zionist ethnos supremacist country who believe they are the chosen race and we are all beneath them (sound familiar) even consider this speaks volumes about Desmond and his cabal, stop giving them your money or you are complicit
Keane managed a football club, he did not push buttons to launch missiles for christ sake
Cheers Eric looking forward to the live show again