Interim manager Martin O’Neill has emphasized the need for “some sort of unification” at Celtic, following fan protests for changes in club management during their intense Scottish Premiership victory over St Mirren on Saturday.
Chants of “sack the board” echoed from the away supporters at both the start and conclusion of the match in Paisley, which Celtic won with a stunning 95th-minute strike from Callum McGregor.
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This protest is part of a growing discontent among fans towards the Celtic leadership, who they believe have allowed the club’s performance to decline.
Since the start of the year, results in both domestic competitions and Europe have faltered.
Celtic currently trails Hearts by four points in the Scottish Premiership and failed to secure a Champions League spot after a disappointing playoff loss to Kazakh champions Kairat. They have only won one of their four Europa League matches since.
Supporters criticized the late arrival of crucial attacking signings that only came after the team dropped out of the top-tier European competition, voicing that those efforts were ultimately too little, too late.
O’Neill, 73, returned to the Celtic manager’s position after Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in late October, a move that highlighted a rift between O’Neill and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
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A Celtic icon, having won seven major trophies as manager from 2000 to 2005 and twice a European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, O’Neill finds that protests continue despite his return, as fans desire change at the board level.
The club’s recent AGM was cut short as shareholders voiced their discontent, booing Desmond’s son Ross for labeling certain fans as “bullies”. The meeting was paused for half an hour by chairman Peter Lawwell amidst further calls for board dismissal.
O’Neill described it as “as sad a morning” as he could recall, reminiscing about the words of legendary manager Jock Stein, who stated that “a club not united would never be successful”.
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“We just need some sort of unification again,” he remarked after the win over St Mirren. “Jock built a club in unification—players, fans, and everyone involved pulling in the same direction.”
Is off-field turmoil affecting on-field performance?
McGregor’s exceptional goal masked some significant issues during the match against St Mirren.
Celtic has struggled offensively this season, failing to score in six matches and registering fewer league goals than both Hearts and Hibernian. Their performance against St Mirren was again lacking in potency.
It wasn’t until injury time that O’Neill’s team produced a shot on target—a weak header from substitute Yang Hyun-Jun—before McGregor’s moment of brilliance turned a potential draw into a win.
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For much of the match, it seemed like they might leave with nothing.
Conor McMenamin came close twice in the first half, Miguel Freckleton squandered a great opportunity by shooting over the bar, and Liam Scales nearly scored an own goal until an offside flag saved him.
When asked whether the ongoing off-field controversies might impact the players’ performance, O’Neill acknowledged that the chants of “sack the board” throughout the match could have a psychological effect. “I don’t think it helps, but I can assure you that the unity in the dressing room is strong,” he said.
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‘Stein would have fixed this in two days’
Nearly a month after being asked by Desmond to oversee operations as interim manager, O’Neill has not yet seen any indication of a permanent replacement being appointed.
Columbus Crew’s head coach Wilfried Nancy is reportedly the frontrunner, with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna and Welsh national team boss Craig Bellamy also linked to the role.
O’Neill anticipates leading the team into Thursday’s Europa League match against Feyenoord, expressing confidence that the new manager—whoever that may be—can help mend the divide between the fans and the board.
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“I absolutely believe that,” he stated. “Jock Stein would have resolved this in two days, but that was Jock Stein. We’re merely following in his footsteps now.”
When asked if he thinks he can bridge the gap, O’Neill expressed hope that the club could progress together in the future. “You have to know your place here,” he remarked. “What you did or were part of 20 years ago doesn’t hold much weight anymore. Regardless of who comes in next or where I end up, I hope to see that unity again.”