Celtic boss calls for ‘unification’ despite last gasp winner

Celtic Push for Stability as Martin O’Neill Urges “Unification”

Interim manager Martin O’Neill has called for calm and cohesion at Celtic after another turbulent weekend overshadowed their dramatic late win at St Mirren. The 73-year-old, drafted back into the role following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in October, believes the club must rediscover collective purpose if they are to arrest their stuttering season.

Fan Protest Intensifies Amid Boardroom Tension

The travelling support again made their displeasure unmistakable in Paisley, with chants of “sack the board” ringing out before the first whistle and returning after Callum McGregor’s 95th-minute winner sealed a much-needed victory.

The unrest follows a prolonged period of declining results and frustration at transfer strategy. Celtic’s failure to qualify for the Champions League after a costly play-off defeat to Kairat has left supporters accusing the board of stagnation and hesitation at key moments. Subsequent Europa League struggles, with just one win from four group outings, have only deepened the concern.

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The situation escalated further at the club’s AGM on Friday, which was abandoned amid shareholder anger. Ross Desmond, son of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, faced jeers after suggesting elements of the fanbase were acting like “bullies”. Chairman Peter Lawwell had earlier halted proceedings for 30 minutes following sustained chants demanding change.

O’Neill, who famously led Celtic to seven major trophies in the early 2000s, described the AGM as “as sad a morning” as he has witnessed during his long association with the club. He invoked Jock Stein’s belief that unity is the foundation of success, stressing that togetherness between players, supporters and board must return.

On-Pitch Struggles Mirror Off-Field Strife

McGregor’s stoppage-time strike masked a performance that raised fresh questions. Celtic have now failed to score in six matches across all competitions this season and sit behind both Hearts and Hibernian in league goals scored.

Against St Mirren, the visitors mustered only one tame headed effort on target prior to McGregor’s intervention. St Mirren, meanwhile, threatened regularly, with Conor McMenamin, Miguel Freckleton and an overturned Liam Scales own goal offering reminders of how fragile Celtic looked defensively.

When asked if the ongoing boardroom saga had seeped into the players’ mindset, O’Neill acknowledged the possibility. He suggested the relentless backdrop of protest could influence performance levels, although he insisted that the dressing room itself remains unified.

Managerial Uncertainty Complicates Rebuild

A month into his interim spell, O’Neill is still awaiting clarity on Celtic’s long-term managerial direction. Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy is widely regarded as a leading candidate, while Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Wales manager Craig Bellamy have both been linked.

O’Neill expects to lead the team into Thursday’s Europa League trip to Feyenoord, yet maintains that whoever takes permanent charge must be prepared to bridge the widening divide between board and support. He believes the right figure could reset the tone at the club, remarking that Jock Stein “would have sorted it in two days”, even if those standards remain unique to a different era.

Asked whether he himself could help restore harmony, O’Neill was measured. He suggested that his achievements two decades ago hold limited relevance but expressed hope that Celtic, in whatever direction they move, eventually find alignment again.

Celtic’s Immediate Priority: Rebuild Trust and Momentum

Celtic’s path forward hinges not only on results but on reconnection. With fans demanding structural change, the board resisting calls for resignations, and the squad battling inconsistency, the club faces a defining stretch on and off the pitch.

As O’Neill put it, Celtic “need some sort of unification again”. Until that arrives, the noise around one of Scotland’s most storied institutions is unlikely to subside.

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