Martin O'Neill owes Celtic nothing and should consider leaving

Inside Celtic Park, the echo of a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup still rang out as 74‑year‑old Martin O'Neill warned his players it should be a wake‑up call. The comments came on 21 September 2026, a week after the loss, and were recorded by CALUM CROWE, Scottish Deputy Chief Sports Writer.

Recent setbacks

O'Neill admitted the club had endured a bruising spell: a 3‑1 Europa League loss to Ferencvaros, a 1‑0 Old Firm defeat at Parkhead and the earlier 3‑0 cup drubbing. He also recalled the Champions League debacle against LASK, where a 4‑0 first‑leg lead evaporated in Austria. Across those five marquee games – two against LASK, two versus Rangers and one versus Ferencvaros – Celtic have been outscored 12‑5.

Legacy and contract

Despite the turmoil, O'Neill stressed his legacy remains “secure and beyond question”. He highlighted the league title secured against Hearts on the final day of the previous season and the Scottish Cup lift that followed. The 74‑year‑old was handed a one‑year deal in June after guiding Celtic to a league and Scottish Cup double during his return as caretaker in January.

The board’s transfer policy also came under fire. A club‑record signing, Kasper Hogh, arrived for £11million but never featured in the starting XI on Sunday, underscoring the lack of a clear playing style.

External voices

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan urged O'Neill to adopt a “spikier, more robust” tone rather than sounding defeated. Jordan said, “I would have liked to hear him say this has happened, it will not happen again.” He also reminded O'Neill of his past achievements, noting the two trophies won in the 2025/26 season.

O'Neill himself said he would “reflect and see” whether he can still help the team, adding that age plays a part and he will be “110 in two years”. He hinted it might be time to “wrap it up”.

After a spell in hospital for a minor procedure, O'Neill does not need the added pressure, according to his own words. The manager’s future now hangs in the balance as Celtic search for a long‑term solution.