If Martin O’Neill’s health is at risk, then he should really be considering his future at Celtic

Yesterday, as we all know, a statement was released by the club stating that Martin O’Neill had undergone a minor procedure in hospital.

The statement opened with the following line, “In response to speculation, we can confirm that Martin O’Neill has undergone a small procedure in hospital“.

What speculation?

I saw nothing yesterday about Martin O’Neill being in hospital, did you?

There was nothing speculated about anywhere, not online, not through social media, no where.

So why did the club feel the need to respond to this non-existent speculation?

Is it because Martin is not going to be able to fulfil his duties on the touchline next Sunday, or is something else?

If that was the case, then this should have been stated in their club statement.

But as we all know, the Celtic board is not inclined to do communication very well.

Either that, or they were afraid of the repercussions if this was included in the statement.

Because they were addressing speculation after all, weren’t they?

And if they said he couldn’t fulfil his duties next Sunday, then that would lead to further speculation, wouldn’t it?

Speculation that there are issues with his health.

Speculation that the issues with his health are as a result of his work environment.

That’s what happens when people speculate.

Hell, it’s what I do on a daily basis.

I speculate on what’s happening at Celtic every day I write about the club.

It’s what I’m doing right now.

Ranting into the void, as some people might say.

The problem here is that I didn’t create the void, the Celtic board did with that statement last night.

Now, I’m not saying this is anything that it says it is.

Martin O’Neill may have just had minor surgery on something that needed to be done for quite some time.

The club wanted get out ahead of it in case people knew about it, and speculated about it.

But nobody did, not that I’m aware of anyway.

Which makes the opening line of the statement all the more baffling.

So, is there more to this than meets the eye?

Well, I’ll put it this way, I underwent a small procedure in hospital a couple of weeks ago.

I was in hospital for two days, when I was released, I was instructed that I would need two week’s recuperation time, minimum.

I go to the gym 4 to 5 days a week, I was told this would not be possible for at least 4 to 5 weeks post op.

Martin O’Neill’s procedure, the board envisaged, would keep him in hospital for a day or two.

Just like me.

So what’s the recuperation period for a 75 year old man who has undergone a small procedure?

Well, I guess that depends on the procedure.

But any procedure requires a recuperation period.

No medical team is going to willingly allow Martin O’Neill to walk out of hospital in the ‘next day or two’ and into the dug out at Rugby Park next Sunday.

It’s unlikely he’ll face media duties tomorrow.

Any minor procedure requires anesthesia, it takes the body at least two or three days to fully recover from this.

I should know.

You’re out of it for quite some time after, and your bodily functions play up for quite a while after too.

I’m much younger than Martin O’Neill.

For a 75 year old, and this is not being ageist, it’s being a realist, the recovery period would probably be a bit longer.

Just ask Google, which is what I did, here’s what it said:

Yes, a 75 year old generally takes longer to recover from minor surgery and anesthesia than somebody much younger , primarily due to age-related changes in the body, specifically decreased organ reserve, slower cellular repair, and increased vulnerability to cognitive side effects.

Martin O’Neill might be the Celtic manager, but that doesn’t make him superhuman.

He will need time to recover from this.

You will also note that before his trip into hospital, Martin announced that he would not be staying at Celtic beyond the year he signed on for.

Was this on the advice of his medical team?

Because let’s be honest, the stress that the board have put him under during this summer window, and in relation to his coaching team, has been off the scale.

At his age, he does NOT need this kind of stress.

Again, I’m speculating here, but Martin may need to strongly consider his health and well-being going forward.

Celtic, at this moment in time, is not an environment conducive to maintaining your health and well-being.

Especially at 75 years of age.

If it is going to have an impact on his health, the Martin O’Neill should really be considering his future at Celtic.

Was this statement the forerunner to many on this subject?

Are the board paving the way to a bigger announcement.

Well, that remains to be seen?

But hell mend them if Martin has to leave the job because of the stress they have placed on him as a result of their ridiculous behaviour throughout this summer window.

This is either a developing story, or it’s exactly what the board has made it out to be.

We’ll find out what all the ‘speculation’ amounts to in the coming days.

But you can rest assured, no medical team worth their salt would be advising Martin O’Neill to be in the dug out against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Not at his age.

If they did, they would be doing him a disservice.

I would strongly suspect you will not see him at Sunday’s game.

Watch this space…

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Last night, I appeared on the Bhoycie Bus, where we discussed this very subject. You can catch it all below: