Celtic must consider keeping O’Neill in charge until after Cup final

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The Celtic Star

·30 November 2025

Celtic must consider keeping O’Neill in charge until after Cup final

As Celtic backed up their phenomenal performance from Thursday night with another hard earned win at Easter Road, a place we have notoriously struggled at in recent years, there really is only one question we should be asking…

Celtic at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Is the club appointing Wilfried Nancy after the Dundee game midweek a case of terrible timing?

Martin O’Neill at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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We have heard from Martin O’Neill both before and after the match confirming he has been asked to lead the team out again on Wednesday against Dundee at Celtic Park, in what he thinks will be his final game in charge. But should it be? It’s a really tough decision that I’m sure the club will certainly be pondering as they wait to finally get things tied up with Wilfried Nancy.

When O’Neill came in I thought teaming him up with Shaun Maloney for the job in an interim basis was a good move, although I have to admit I also felt like the board may have been lining Maloney up to take over long term if things went well, the usual style from the men who run our club, continuing to favour nepotism and frugality over ambition. Thankfully my Maloney theory hasn’t materialised but I have to admit that Martin O’Neill with the former Celtic winger by his side have certainly impressed during their spell. It’s certainly panned out better than I ever imagined.

Martin O’Neill at Easter Road

O’Neill and Maloney have come in and truth be told they have been absolutely fantastic. The results have been excellent. 6 games so far with 5 wins, including a Glasgow derby victory in the semi final of the league cup and a famous away win in Rotterdam against Feyenoord. The only negative was the 3-1 loss against Midtjylland in Denmark but to be fair they have been flying in the Europa League this season and were just a team who were better in every department against Celtic on the night.

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I was at the match on Thursday and it was easily our best performance all season. We were absolutely tremendous throughout the 90 mins and fully deserved our win. You could see how much the players wanted it, how much effort they were putting in for their manager. I don’t think we would have witnessed that type of performance under Brendan Rodgers. You could see the confidence they had playing under Martin O’Neill. As we celebrated long and hard in the away end, our managers name was being sung loud and proud.

As you do in these situations, you end up talking with loads of fellow fans as you wait to leave the stadium, and most of them were saying the same thing.

Can Martin O’Neill not stay on?

Arne Engels scores Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Before Thursday I was 100% sure the best idea was to get Wilfried Nancy in as soon as possible. The club needed the get on with appointing the new boss as he would need as much time as possible to analyse the squad and see what he thinks before letting him bring in what is needed in the January transfer window. All pretty black and white for me. The sensible thing to do. Now however I’m starting to doubt my own logic.

As previously mentioned, Thursday’s result and performance was right up there with one of the best in the last few years. Today getting three points at Easter Road against a Hibs team we always seem to struggle to beat on their own turf was another huge positive. Was this afternoon’s performance a classic? Far from it but the result was all that mattered, after the effort we put in on Thursday I never expected a great show today. Take the three points and move on. The question is would we have got these results if Nancy was in charge, with no time to work with the players or even get to know them in such a short period? I doubt it. Which worries me for what’s ahead.

I actually liked the thought of him starting against Dundee at Celtic Park. Far from an easy game but certainly one we would expect to win, one that he would enter without too much pressure on him. Now it looks like his first game will be a top of the table clash with Hearts next weekend. Then a difficult match against a strong Roma team in the Europa League followed by a League Cup final against St Mirren.

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I just worry what the reaction would be if he was to fail to beat Heart’s? Or if we take a beating at home against Roma? Or worse of all if we fail to win the League Cup after O’Neill done so well to get us there. A lot of fans would be on the new managers back straight away. The anger at the board would be once again full blown outrage. If O’Neill remains in charge and any of these things are to happen the reaction would be nowhere near as negative. Martin has done his bit. Whatever happens now he will leave with his reputation not just intact but actually increased.

Wilfried Nancy, Head Coach of Columbus Crew SC, arrives prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium on May 31, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

What harm would it do to delay Nancy by just a couple of weeks? Get him in, sign him up and let him get his bearings around Glasgow and within the club. Let him sit in the stands and judge this team over the next few matches. See what tune O’Neill is getting out of them and let him plan how to get even more from this group. From the men who run our clubs point of view it should be a no brainer for them. Keeping Martin at the helm for another couple of weeks will make it look like they listen to the fans, that they maybe even care what they think. It looks good by treating a club legend with the respect he deserves, by giving him the honour of the opportunity to say goodbye to the Celtic fans whilst raising a trophy over his head.

Arne Engels at Easter Road, Sunday 30 November 2025. Hibs v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The scenario will even be helpful to Nancy. The feel good factor will be high. Celtic fans and players will be happy. The fury against the board will be calmed a bit by them looking for once like they do care what the fans think. He will be able to start afresh. Yes, his first few fixtures will still be tough with the likes of Dundee United and Aberdeen due but by then we could have a trophy in the bag and be sitting top of the league. The pressure certainly won’t be as intense as it will if he’s given the reigns after Wednesday night.

I think it could be a decision that works out well for absolutely everyone involved. Martin O’Neill, Wilfried Nancy, The board, even the Celtic fans. It’s certainly an idea that Celtic would be foolish not to entertain.

Conall McGinty

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