Martin O’Neill to hold fort until recruitment process completed

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The Celtic Star

·17 November 2025

Martin O’Neill to hold fort until recruitment process completed

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…

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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.

Video OneFootball

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!

Liam Scales of Republic of Ireland celebrates his sides third goal scored by Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland (not pictured) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)

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.

Celtic Park. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

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.’

Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill. Celtic v theRangers. Premier Sports Cup, semi final at Hampden. 2 November 2025. Photo AJ (The Celtic Star)

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. Read More ⤵️
– Senin, 17 November 2025

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