Martin O’Neill until the New Year is surely the sensible option

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The Celtic Star

·12 November 2025

Martin O’Neill until the New Year is surely the sensible option

To me, the sensible thing would be leaving Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney in charge until the New Year, then appoint the new manager to start after the Glasgow Derby on 2 January 2026. Give him a month shadowing the two interims and possibly sizing up Maloney as an invaluable assistant for when he takes the reins…

Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

It looks like the hunt for a new Celtic manager is well in on the way with serval names still in contention as the rumour mill goes into overdrive.

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Some are even speculating that white smoke could be visible over Celtic Park during the international break, due to bookmakers suspended betting on the matters with Wilfried Nancy the new favourite, but for me, the more sensible option would be not to rush into hiring someone whom might be seen as ‘more available’ and leave Martin O’Neill in charge for the time being, with the hope of bringing someone on board by the New Year.

Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Martin and Shaun Maloney are doing a fine job, as they’ve proven in their three domestic games, and would undoubtedly steady the ship until a new man is put in place.

Taking our time to find the right man should be our main focus. We need the right man to take over, especially with our current standing in the league and Europa, where all is not yet lost.

It’s important that the new man is the perfect choice, one who is well equipped to be the manager of Celtic Football Club. So naturally we should be taking our time in selecting the best person for the job. O’Neill and Maloney have bought the board some valuable time and they should use it wisely.

Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney celebrate Celtic’s opening goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Even if their preferred candidate would not be available until say, his side’s Champions League run comes to an end that Celtic could actually live with that. What would a little longer matter to get the right man in and with the legendary Martin O’Neill backed by Shaun Maloney in charge, no-one will have a bad word to say about them.

Martin is loving every minute of it, but don’t underestimate the importance of the work Shaun Maloney is doing on the training pitch. There’s no need to be rushed into the wrong appointment. Martin O’Neill has given Celtic the luxury of waiting for Mr Right.

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