Martin O’Neill Will “Genuinely Reflect” On His Celtic Future – Sadly, The Time For Reflection Has Passed

Martin O’Neill says he will speak to the Celtic board during the international break and “genuinely reflect and see” whether he believes he can turn this around.

For me, sadly, the reflection has already taken place.

It happened over the last seven days.

I said on the Bhoycie Bus before this run began that this was the week that could shape Celtic’s season. Three enormous matches: Rangers, Ferencváros and Rangers again.

My prediction was simple. If Celtic completed a hat-trick of defeats, Martin O’Neill wouldn’t be manager when we played our next game.

Well, the hat-trick is complete.

I think we’ve reached it.

Then Comes The Even Bigger Problem.

Changing the manager is the easy part.

Trusting Celtic to choose the right replacement for Martin O’Neill?

That’s where you’ve lost me.

I have absolutely zero confidence in the structure above the manager to conduct a proper, modern search for Celtic’s next manager.

Where is the football department with the international network capable of identifying the next outstanding coach?

Where is the succession planning?

Where is the evidence that Celtic have a list of candidates assembled through something more sophisticated than people the hierarchy already know?

My fear is they’ll reach straight back into the little black book.

Someone they’ve employed before. Someone they’ve interviewed before. Someone somebody on the board knows.

And my prediction?

Shaun Maloney. “Interim” of course.

I’m not reporting that Celtic are about to appoint Maloney. That’s simply where I fear this ends.

Maloney is already inside the building, already knows the players and has been part of O’Neill’s coaching structure. Earlier this year, he even had to dismiss speculation linking him with becoming Celtic manager.

If O’Neill walks during this international break, handing Maloney the job on an interim basis would be the easiest decision imaginable for this board.

And that’s precisely what worries me.

Because Celtic don’t need the easiest decision.

They need the right one.

This football club desperately requires fresh thinking, a proper football structure and a managerial search extending far beyond the usual Celtic contacts.

O’Neill says he’ll reflect.

I think Celtic should too.

Not only on whether Martin O’Neill’s time has reached its conclusion, but on why one of the biggest clubs in Britain still appears so badly prepared for what comes next.

And be careful with that word interim.

Brian Wilson has taught us recently that at Celtic, interim can be indefinite…

Keep Your Eyes On The Board.