Q: How much more confident do you feel after we spoke to you at Lennoxtown?
Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, but I said to you I would tell you at the next press conference, after this one!”
Green Brigade protest against the Celtic board during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Q: You want to enlighten the fans?
Martin O’Neill:“Oh, they’re enlightening the fans. As if you’d really care about the fans! Yeah, we are very, very hopeful that we will get some people in.”
Q: Are you expecting anyone in before Hearts at the weekend?
Martin O’Neill: “We are very hopeful that we’ll get some people in, young man. Nice to see you. Gosh, I wish I’d get the old gang back. The lads who used to argue with me all the time. I want them back. Please, get them back.”
Auchinleck Talbot Goalkeeper William Muir dives for Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic’s shot but the ball flies past him during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic at Rugby Park on January 18, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
Q: Sorry to disappoint you.
Martin O’Neill: “No, you’re not disappointing me, young man. Not at all. You’re better looking than most of them anyway! Oh, they were some ugly boys. Honestly, I used to dread the Friday mornings. Just looking down. Mind you, I’m no oil painting myself. There we go.”
Q: We saw you at Motherwell yesterday. Was that a scouting mission?
Martin O’Neill: “That was a football mission. That’s part of my job, to look at the games, if I can get an opportunity. We did it after training.”
Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Q: Did anyone in particular impress you in that game? There’s a name that’s been mentioned a few times in connection with Celtic. Was there one in particular standing out?
Martin O’Neill: “I enjoyed the game. You lads, honestly. You’re testing me to the utmost.”
Q: Are you actively looking at the Scottish market?
Martin O’Neill: “I was asked that question last week. I think absolutely there are players here. There’s no doubt at all about it. There are players here that are capable of playing at a higher level. But it’s only my opinion.”
Q: Lots has been made of the striker situation but is there an obvious need for more guile as well?
Martin O’Neill: “Brilliant. Absolutely.”
Q: Is that a yes?
Martin O’Neill: “Brilliant.”
🤞 “Hopeful” of new arrivals
🔎 “Mission” to watch Motherwell
🏴 Looking at the Scottish market?
😂 “You lads are testing me”Celtic manager Martin O’Neill provides a transfer update after beating Auchinleck Talbot to advance to the last-16 of the Scottish Cup ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RwgnF6mFHR
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 18, 2026
Celtic were drawn at home against Dundee in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, with the draw taking place at Rugby Park last night.
Martin O’Neill provides an update on where Celtic stand with their transfer business 🍀
“We are making some progress and hopefully we will get the players in before the end of the season” 😅#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/DxssXNMFkF
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 18, 2026
WILL WE HAVE TWO ATTACKERS IN TO PLAY AGAINST hearts ,ONLY THE IDIOTS ON THE BOARD CAN TELL US THAT HH