Celtic this evening released a brief update/statement confirming that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will continue to handle first team matters on an interim basis until the recruitment process to appoint the new permanent manager is completed…
That should be done over the coming few days and with the match against St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday night a consideration, Celtic may well opt to have the O’Neill and Maloney pairing in the dug-out at St Mirren park with perhaps the incoming manager – if he is in Glasgow by then – in the stand watching on.
Martin O’Neill was at his charming best talking to Celtic TV today discussing the brilliant result for Ireland in Hungary yesterday and the interim manager said that he’d spoke to Liam Scales and Johnny Kenny today and both were absolutely delighted, although he reckons that he may have woken Scales up. Tough night for Liam by the sounds of it!
On the Scotland v Denmark World Cup decider Martin pointed out that had the Tartan Army been offered the chance to win the last match at Hampden to go the World Cup they’d definitely have taken it.
The clear skies over Lennoxtown today reminded Martin of his time as the permanent Celtic manager at the beginning of the century – and immediately that made him sound old! His attention is on St Mirren who impressed him in his recent visit to Paisley for their match against Hibs with Martin mentioning the two disallowed goals for the Buddies that certainly impacted on the result.
Here’s the update from the club, as posted on the official Celtic FC website.
First-team update
‘As Celtic Football Club continues with the process to appoint our next permanent manager, we can confirm that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will continue to manage first-team matters on an interim basis, until this process is complete. We will update supporters further as soon as possible.’
And speaking to Celtic TV today (Monday) at Lennoxtown, Martin O’Neill said: “First things first, I enjoyed the couple of days off because it was a bit of a whirlwind fortnight beforehand, but if there’s not an announcement now in the next few days, then I’m happy to still be here for the weekend game against St Mirren.
“First of all, we want the players coming back from international matches unscathed, which is the most important thing for us just now, now that we’ve got a few injuries to contend with.
“So whatever sort of squad we had for the Kilmarnock game, I wouldn’t mind having roughly the same again, but we can only deal with what we have and what we want to do, and we just want to play as strongly as we possibly can. But let’s see what the next couple of days bring.”
Here’s the video of Martin O’Neill talking to Celtic TV at Lennoxtown earlier today….
As #CelticFC continue with the process to appoint our next permanent manager, we can confirm that Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will continue to manage first-team matters on an interim basis, until this process is complete.
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— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 17, 2025
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Think a bit of common sense may have finally broken out within our club eventually imo?
As soon as we won the semi final, only thought was it right for the MoN and Maloney partnership to lead us in the final.
Moreso, we have a very challenging run of fixtures, right up to that final beforehand.
Even the final itself, is only 3 days after Roma at home in the europa league.
Still believe that bringing a new manager in, with such a challenge with the fixtures, was a huge risk to be taking, without time to even get to know the players properly imo.
Given the extra time potentially available for the new manager, possibly allows himself to be better prepared for the job in hand.
With MoN and Maloney bringing stability within our playing squad, then no need to rush an appointment, when we aren’t in a position to panic about the timing of getting a new manager in.
If MoN can survive until the final, can’t think of a more fitting way to finish his stint, with another trophy beside his name.
If Nancy is going to be our manager, then giving him more time available, to adjust and be more prepared for himself, would be only right, especially if a trophy has been delivered, and the pressure reduced in taken over the reigns.
Could of course be a case of him not fancying the job, even at that it allows time for getting someone else in.