Martin’s back, and even better he’s not going in blind…
Celtic v Falkirk 29.10.2025 Scottish Premiership. Martin O’Neill, Shaun Maloney, Gavin Strachan and Mark Fotheringham Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO
Martin O’Neill is this morning back in charge of Celtic after the club bit the bullet and admitted their mistakes by placing the iconic Irishman back in charge of Celtic until the end of the season after they dismissed Wilfried Nancy. The Frenchman’s exit is a relief while MON’s return has delighted the entire Celtic support.
Martin will once again be assisted by Shaun Maloney, with Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus also returning to the Irishman’s backroom staff, with existing coaches Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Greg Wallace remaining to aid the Irishman in his task to bring success.
Martin O’Neill with Reo Hatate. Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
With Martin we know exactly what we’re getting, the opposite of what we got with Nancy. More importantly, Martin knows exactly what he’s walking into unlike his last foray, when despite possessing great knowledge and experience of the club and it’s expectations, he was going in blind in terms of the playing staff. This time his eyes are wide open from the start.
That short period working with the players will have given the veteran Irishman a great insight into the squad’s strengths and weaknesses, and even better he knows how to install that belief and winning mentality which was more than evident during his previous short interim reign.
Martin O’Neill, Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month for November 2025. Image SPFL
Indeed, had the club done the right thing and kept Martin at the helm instead of hiring an unknown and unproven coach in Wilfried Nancy, then we would have most likely been in a much better place at this present time. Sitting top of the table with the Premier Sports cup tucked away in the trophy cabinet would have been more than a distinct possibility.
Nancy era the stuff of nightmares for Celtic supporters
The short Wilfried Nancy era really was the stuff of nightmares for Celtic supporters, one of momentous proportions, but thankfully we’re all now fully awake and can start to recover with Martin once again at the helm.
Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Saturday’s clash with Dundee United is now one that will eagerly be anticipated rather than boycotted because that’s where it was heading until the Celtic Board had to admit their mistake by their actions if not by their words.
TIME FOR THE GREEN BRIGADE TO RETURN…
Our Dear Green Place tifo by the Green Brigade, September 2024. Photo IMAGO
Next they have to settle their differences with the Green Brigade and have them back in place for Saturday and ahead of Martin’s first media conference they need to lift their disgraceful ban on the Celtic fan media. It’s unlikely that they’ll do this and the Celtic fan protests will have to continue.
All we want is to have the best possible version of Celtic.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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