Martin O’Neill could stay on as Celtic manager next season, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast. The 74-year-old has already pulled Celtic back from the edge this season after the disastrous Wilfried Nancy era. With the Scottish Premiership title still up for grabs, people are talking more and more about what O’Neill will do next.
Celtic told not to stick with Martin O’Neill
Wyness, who was CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and later worked at Everton and Aston Villa, thinks the Celtic board will give O’Neill a real choice about staying or going at the end of the year. Most importantly, Wyness noticed a lot of energy in O’Neill’s recent interviews, which suggests the veteran boss is seriously thinking about staying for another season.
Celtic are currently just one point behind league leaders Hearts, with a final-day game against them still to play, which means a domestic double is still on the cards. O’Neill’s record this season is 25 wins, three draws, and four losses from 32 games, a record that speaks for itself.
What Wyness actually said and why the Nancy comparison matters?
Wyness told the podcast that O’Neill sounds like he has a real spark back, and that the manager is looking closely at staying next season, even if his family might want him to retire while he’s ahead. The mention of the Nancy period is important here.
Celtic’s form fell off a cliff under Nancy, who was the first manager in the modern era to lose his first two games before hitting a rough patch that included a League Cup final loss to St Mirren and a defeat to Rangers; the club’s first run of four losses in a row since 1978. With that in mind, O’Neill’s calm leadership changed the mood at Parkhead almost immediately.
“I heard O’Neill the other day, and there is a glimmer in his voice that he’s just enjoying this so much right now. I think it’s taken 20 years off his age, and he is thinking about the possibility of next season. Although I’m sure his family and his wife will be saying, no, Martin, you’ve done enough, and he’ll be thinking, ” Should I go out at the top?
“He’s seen the whole Wilfred Nancy episode happen this season. What a huge mistake that was. The Celtic fans will never forget that.
“I certainly will never forget what a huge mistake that was to put Wilfred Nancy in at the time Celtic did, when Martin was still doing well with the club. So he’ll have the choice.”
Should Celtic actually keep O’Neill beyond this summer, or is sentiment clouding their judgment?
Celtic should probably avoid the temptation to keep him. O’Neill’s results haven’t always been perfect, with losses to Hibernian and Dundee United early causing some concern. Also, his winter signings were mostly loans and free agents that didn’t really improve the squad.
At 74, Celtic might find themselves looking for another manager very soon, which would just start the cycle of instability all over again. While everyone loves a legend, the club need a long-term plan and a permanent hire who can build for the 2026-27 season. O’Neill deserves a lot of credit for saving the season, but the best way to honour that is to give him a proper send-off, rather than giving him a job that might eventually hurt his legacy.
