Martin O’Neill popped up on talkSport today to chat to Jim White and Simon Jordan about the current situation at Celtic…
Jordan was keen to press Martin on whether he’d be interested in the Celtic job on a permanent basis in the summer if he chases Hearts down to win the league this season.
White wanted to talk to the interim Celtic boss, a regular on talkSport when he’s not answering SOS (save our season) calls for Dermot Desmond, what his thoughts were on the ongoing ‘Sack the Board’ protests at the club and whether he had any plans to do something about it.
White started with the closure of the January transfer window with Martin sidestepping whether the three deadline day signs were his choice before praising the board for their resolve to retain Arne Engels despite three bids reaching £25m from Nottingham Forest for the Belgian midfielder
Jim White wanted to know if Martin O’Neill had a say in he decision to knock-back a £25m bid for the player.
Martin gave him this answer: “No, the board turned it down. Obviously, it’s arrived very, very late in the day and we had these offers coming in.
“I actually did a press conference just after our game against Falkirk, unaware that there’d been an offer gone in. I think that the press seemed to get to know about them before the club did.
“But anyway, that’s beside the point. It was very late in proceedings and the board turned them down. Considering the amounts of money that you’re talking about, because that would be very, very big up here, that was remarkable.”
On the supporter unrest at Celtic, MartinO’Neill said: “I’m hoping that there’ll be some sort of reconciliation between everyone. I think that is absolutely necessary at the football club.
“For us to go forward now, to get ourselves going, we qualified at least for another two games into the knockout stages of the Europa League. The atmosphere against Utrecht was really, really good, but we can do with a reconciliation, no question about that.”
White returned to this subject later in the conversation, asking how far apart the board and fans are.
As is often the way Martin replied jokingly: “Again, it’s a good question. I think you think I’ve just come up here and feel as if I’m some mediator that’s going to try and sort a few things out.
“I’m up here to try and win a couple of football matches. If there’s a bit of shenanigans going on in the background, I can’t do anything about that at this minute. But seriously, when I get an opportunity, I shall try and join the Peace Corps sometime and try and work it out from there.”
Watch the interview below…
Celtic board is getting it from all angles g from Scottish media for making the Club top club in Scotland from Sfa for whay the club cv is from small amoit of small fans for not doing what they want myself its transfer windows but i relise its playersand agents that wont commit to final days of Transfer window and clubs like Nottingham forrest putting bid in for our young not best but promising midfielder if he played in epl that offer would be laughable im sure they knew Celtic had no choice but to knock it back now we might have a unhappy player but I think he had this on his mind for weeks hence the half hearted tackles now he either concintrates on playing for Celtic and go for more to a bigger team cause forrest arent the same team the were for 5 years when clough was manager simce then the went into liquadation but our bour board are whipping boys for being running the club like a business maybe thats the trouble you try and run it like a club suppoters want you will almost be liqudated i know what i want and our board have mearly got it right id never believe we where the club that brother wilfred established in 1888 if we went into LIQUIDATION ! no matter how much lawyers and football authorties spin it yoir not the same club and in your heart we know it so the anirchyst thats have wormed into Celtic curve or round about it with sack the board and political banners are not going to get us closed door games cause the board arent allowing it you have spoilt aa standing area that most clubs and supporters envy but its got worse as years went on go there support Celtic but leave the running of the club to the people that has done well gor a Club thats not wanted but needed by sfa we have enough enemies in this country without waane bees joining in ultras have gave them platform we should be shiwn these political flag wavers the door not our board your just giving athorties ways of cutting us down yes keep the irish culture going but hamas and gazza nothing to do with us winnig the league but might lose it if they dont stop stupid political statements and concitrate on making our atmosphere best in europe as it was before smoke bombs flares how much in fines have it cost us could cost your seat these people can and will
It sounds like your related to someone on the board making stupid comments like that. And like them clearly don’t have a clue what your talking about, its got nothing to do with agents players or anyone and this transfer window has got nothing to do with any issues you mention.The only thing you said right is yes we are the top team in Scotland but now we are a farce! We have bathed in the glory in recent years Brendan Rogers brought real glory days back and im guessing your very young and known what it was like before but we are in real danger of us not being anything like force we have been! This is why the fans protest and not a small minority but almost all true supporters Green brigade or not we always have stood as one and we can’t alow the ones with the loudest voice to be banned by the boards attempt to devide us it is the board and them only that have put us in this mess, we finished last season with a team and manager looking like we were capable of being a big name in European football again all had big hopes for the next season but this board sold anyone they could strengthened knowhere lost our manager replaced him with a knowbody costing nothing and if it wasn’t for another club legend in Martin O’Neil and his brilliance where would we be? Down near the bottom of the league and who’s fault would that be then? And for your stupid comments about hamas and gaza the Palestinian flag fans fly has nothing to do with the recent war or for any other political reason its been used for decades its the symbolism for us as supporters that we welcome all minority and persecuted as we all stand united as one! So it is supporters like you who are the minority! Know your history learn more about the true facts of who we are and your worst comment keep the Irish thing going, why is there some reason you think we shouldn’t?? Do you know any history that’s who we are thats why we were formed!