When Celtic Football Club announced Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation at the end of October 2025, few expected the fallout to stretch into a full month of uncertainty. But here we are: Martin O'Neill, 73, is still in charge—not as a stopgap, but as the de facto leader of a club in crisis. With the annual general meeting Celtic Park looming on Friday, November 21, 2025, the board is under siege, fans are furious, and the next manager hasn’t even been contacted properly.
Why O'Neill Is Still in Charge
It’s not that no one else is available. It’s that no one else has been officially asked. Wilfried Nancy, the 49-year-old French tactician who’s turned the Columbus Crew SC into a MLS powerhouse, was widely expected to be named Celtic’s next manager by now. But Issa Tall, general manager of the Crew, dropped a bombshell on November 18: "There hasn’t been any ask whatsoever." No call. No email. No formal request. Just silence from Glasgow.
Meanwhile, O’Neill—Celtic’s most successful manager of the 21st century, who won three league titles between 2000 and 2005—has quietly gone about his business. Three wins, one loss in four games. No drama. No grandstanding. Just results. And yet, he’s made it clear to the board: he’s not the long-term answer. "You need a new, probably younger manager," he reportedly told them. Still, he’s staying put. Why? Because someone has to hold the ship.
The Transfer Fiasco That Broke the Back of the Club
Rodgers didn’t leave because he was tired. He left because he was furious. And he wasn’t alone. The board admitted publicly that the summer transfer window was a disaster. £77 million sat in the bank. Yet Celtic signed no marquee players. No central defender. No creative midfielder. No one to replace the departing stars. The result? A Champions League exit in the playoff round—the first time in seven years. The fans didn’t just feel betrayed. They felt mocked.
Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, the Irish billionaire who owns 17% of the club, didn’t hold back after Rodgers’ exit. "We failed," he said bluntly. "And we need to own it." That’s rare. Most clubs blame the manager. Celtic’s board is being forced to take the blame. And now, at the AGM, shareholders will demand answers: Why did you have £77 million and still lose to Maccabi Tel Aviv? Why did you let your manager feel abandoned? And who approved this transfer strategy?
Le Tissier’s Bold Suggestion: Keep O’Neill Above the Boss
Here’s the twist no one saw coming. Matt Le Tissier, the legendary Southampton striker and Premier League icon, told Football Insider something radical: "Celtic should try to keep Martin O’Neill on in an advisory role—above the new manager. Whoever that is."
It’s a stunning idea. A manager reporting to a former manager. But in a club where institutional memory has been lost, it might be the only way to avoid repeating the same mistakes. O’Neill isn’t just a tactician—he’s the chairman of the League Managers Association. He’s spoken to every top coach in England. He knows what works. And he knows what doesn’t.
Imagine a structure where Nancy runs the day-to-day, but O’Neill sits in on recruitment meetings, helps vet candidates, and ensures the club doesn’t repeat its financial blunders. It’s unconventional. But in a club that’s lost its way, maybe conventional is the problem.
Why Nancy’s Appointment Is in Jeopardy
Let’s be clear: Nancy is still the favorite. He’s won trophies. He’s built a system. But Le Tissier isn’t wrong to question his lack of experience outside North America. MLS isn’t the Premier League. The physicality, the pace, the media pressure—it’s a different world. And Celtic fans don’t want a project. They want a winner.
Meanwhile, the delay isn’t just about bureaucracy. It’s about culture. Did the board assume Nancy would say yes? Did they think the Crew would just hand him over? Tall’s statement suggests otherwise. Without a formal offer, Nancy is still under contract. And Columbus isn’t rushing to let him go.
There’s also the timing. Celtic’s next match is Saturday. O’Neill will be on the bench. Again. And if Nancy isn’t named by next week, the club risks losing momentum in the Scottish Premiership race—and the Europa League group stage. Every day without a permanent manager is a day lost.
What Happens at the AGM?
Friday’s meeting at Celtic Park won’t be a formality. It’ll be a reckoning. Shareholders will ask:
- Why did the club hold £77 million and sign no key players?
- Why was Rodgers allowed to feel so isolated in his transfer demands?
- Who approved the recruitment structure that led to this?
- And why is the board still acting like this is a minor setback, not a leadership crisis?
O’Neill, for the first time in 20 years, will sit at the top table. Not as manager. Not as director. But as a man who’s seen this club rise and fall. He’s not here to save them. But he might be the only one who still knows how to fix them.
What’s Next?
By next Monday, Celtic must either make a formal offer to Nancy—or pivot hard. There are other candidates. But none with his pedigree. And none who could be ready so quickly. If Nancy doesn’t come, the board risks another interim mess—this time with a younger, less experienced manager who won’t have O’Neill’s credibility.
Meanwhile, the players are playing. The fans are watching. And the clock is ticking. This isn’t just about a manager. It’s about whether Celtic still has the nerve to be great.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t Wilfried Nancy been officially offered the job yet?
According to Columbus Crew SC general manager Issa Tall, Celtic has not submitted any formal request to hire Nancy as of November 18, 2025. While media speculation suggested an imminent deal, no official communication has been received by the MLS club. Without a written offer, Nancy remains under contract with Columbus, and any move would require mutual agreement and a transfer fee.
Is Martin O’Neill really considering staying on after the new manager arrives?
O’Neill has not publicly confirmed a future role, but he’s reportedly told the board he’s open to an advisory position—possibly above the new manager. Former Premier League star Matt Le Tissier has publicly endorsed this idea, arguing O’Neill’s LMA connections and past success make him uniquely qualified to guide the club’s long-term strategy, especially in recruitment and culture.
Why did Celtic fail to qualify for the Champions League despite having £77 million?
The club spent only £22 million in the 2025 summer window, despite having £77 million available. Key targets like a central defender and a creative midfielder were not pursued aggressively. Internal reports suggest poor coordination between the manager, scouting team, and board, leading to missed opportunities and weak squad depth—ultimately costing them in the Champions League playoff against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
What impact could this managerial chaos have on Celtic’s season?
With O’Neill in temporary charge, results have been solid, but morale is fragile. A prolonged interim period risks player unrest and loss of momentum in the Scottish Premiership, where Rangers are closing the gap. In the Europa League, a weak group stage exit could cost the club £15 million in revenue. The longer the uncertainty lasts, the harder it becomes to attract top-tier talent in January.
How unusual is it for a former manager to return as interim boss for so long?
Extremely rare. While interim appointments are common, O’Neill’s tenure—now over five weeks and counting—is one of the longest in modern Celtic history for a former manager. His age, his prior success, and his LMA leadership role make this situation unique. No other club in Scotland has kept a 73-year-old ex-manager in charge for so long without naming a successor.
What’s at stake for the Celtic board at the AGM?
Shareholders will demand accountability for the Champions League failure, the £77 million in idle funds, and the breakdown in communication with Rodgers. If the board can’t present a clear, credible plan for rebuilding the recruitment structure and restoring fan trust, there could be calls for resignations—or even a shareholder revolt. This isn’t just about football. It’s about governance.
