Celtic have clinched their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, and the man who stepped in to steady the ship might not be ready to leave just yet. Martin O’Neill, 74 years old, has stepped up twice this season to provide the experience and authority a shaky Celtic side desperately needed.
Celtic’s veteran boss could stay on
His contract runs out this summer, and most people in Scottish football assumed he would quietly move into a director of football role. However, former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness thinks a win against Hearts on Sunday might change everything (this was recorded before Celtic’s win over Hearts). Speaking on the Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness, who led Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 before stints at Everton and Aston Villa, suggested that a trophy would make it very tough for O’Neill to walk away.
“Martin O’Neill has been a big factor for Celtic, and if he does win the title, it’ll be very hard for him to resist that passion that he’s feeling and the excitement he feels. Obviously, it’s made him feel younger again. I’ve heard the same old feisty Martin again, like it used to be. I used to have run-ins with him all the time in the media when I was at Aberdeen.
“I know what he’s like, but good luck to him. He deserves that chance, but they’ve still got to finish the job. If they don’t win the league, then I don’t think he’ll go on next year, but if Celtic do, then it’ll be very hard to resist.”
Should Celtic actually want O’Neill to stay beyond this summer?
While Celtic fans have plenty to be thankful for, gratitude doesn’t always equal a solid long-term plan. O’Neill was brought in as a quick fix, not a permanent foundation. The club are already being linked with several big-name candidates for the full-time job, and keeping O’Neill on could look like short-term thinking for a club that need to build for European success.
His energy and track record are great, but Celtic need a manager who can focus on scouting, developing young talent, and handling the grind of a modern season. O’Neill’s passion is obvious, but passion isn’t a substitute for a three-year transfer strategy. In the end, Celtic need a fresh start built on the future rather than just sticking with what feels comfortable right now.
After all, a title win cannot hide the existing cracks, and there were plenty of that this season. Hiring O’Neill will be again doing more of the same, only this time at the start of a new season.
