Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill speaks at a mainstream conference on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at Lennoxtown after returning to the club following the sacking of Wifred Nancy. Photo Andy Buchanan Shutterstock
Q: Just to be clear, that was another conversation with Dermot?
Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, it didn’t last that long. But neither did the first conversation. He put the ultimatum to me pretty quickly. But I suppose having had, what was it, five or six weeks then and having gotten to know the players, or most of the players, then it was probably, in that sense, a little bit easier for me to say yes, only because I kind of got to know them a bit. I was coming into something completely different the time before, not really knowing some of the players, and with them not really knowing me or anything like that. So, again, it was fine. I suppose, deep down, I wanted to do it.”
Q: Was it just an instant decision for you, Martin, or was it just your thought, OK, the club is needing me, in a time of need, I need to go back?
Martin O’Neill: “If you put it like that there, essentially, that’s probably true.
Q: Is it definitely just until the end of the season, Martin? Is that the way you’re looking at it, or will you review it at the end of the season, see how you do, see how you feel?
Martin O’Neill: “I wonder whether I would have the capacity to go and carry on. And also, I’m 112 on my next birthday, so I think time is kind of running out for me. But I’d like to try and do well in it, and who knows what the board might think, but I would not be, and I’m serious about this, I wouldn’t be thinking any longer than the end of the season for me, regardless of what happens.”
Q: In terms of this season, then, the conversation you had with Dermot, did you talk about targets? What are you coming in to do?
Martin O’Neill: “No, he didn’t. Well, what am I coming to do? I suppose most managers come in to try and win some football games, but he didn’t say about winning a league. We didn’t have a long conversation, by the way. It didn’t last that long. My conversations with Dermot don’t last that long. But I would have assumed that he would, it is Celtic, you know, and you have to fight back after adversity, so I would have assumed that you would want to try and close the gap. (the)Rangers have closed right up alongside us, maybe they could go ahead tonight, and so we’ve got a battle on our hands.”
