Martin O’Neill is reportedly set to “fight hard” with the board to change their stance on his Celtic backroom staff.
In a remarkable, rapidly-developing story, O’Neill is already fighting battles with Parkhead bosses before he has even been announced.
It was revealed that Celtic and the staff were ‘far apart’ on Thursday morning, in an update which explained the delay on his confirmation as permanent manager.
Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have reportedly been offered “substantial wage cuts” by the club.
Your thoughts on the latest update on the delayed appointment of Martin O’Neill… 🤦♂️
Mark Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney not to accept Celtic terms
According to a bombshell report in the Scottish Sun, the pair have been offered the cuts on a “non-negotiable, take-it-or-leave it basis”.
It’s said that the pair are not likely to accept these terms at present, casting serious doubt over their respective futures.
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O’Neill is described as “alarmed” and likely to “fight hard” with the club to reconsider their hardball stance.
A key difference between the two coaches is that Maloney is already contracted with the club for next season; his deal as Player Pathways Manager doesn’t expire until next summer.
This reportedly makes Fotheringham more likely to leave. Convinced to return last autumn, he now has interest from several clubs, including Borussia Monchengladbach.
Proficient in German, Fotheringham has already worked as an assistant for several clubs in the Bundesliga.
The news is exactly what an under-fire board could do without. Their decision to take the perceived easy option in O’Neill has grossly backfired.
The report also reaffirms that the backroom staff delay is the sole reason for the delay in confirming O’Neill’s permanent appointment.
The pair’s role in Celtic’s league and cup double is hard to overstate, and didn’t go unnoticed by fans; both had their names sung in the stands most weeks.
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Aiden McGeady on Shaun Maloney’s role at Celtic
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, before the end of the season, Aiden McGeady was asked if Maloney could be the next Celtic manager, replying: “If I’m being totally honest, I can’t see it.
“Because, I think… Shaun took over after Wigan. He took over as Player Pathways Manager. Very very quickly, [he] took over as interim assistant to Martin O’Neill.
“I think, if a new manager comes in, in my opinion, Shaun will either stay on the coaching staff, or I think Shaun will possibly be the new director of football.
“Or, head of football operations. Celtic don’t do directors of football, so head of football operations.
“Because the things that I know inside Celtic [are] that everyone’s very happy with how Shaun’s been doing and how he’s been handling things.
“Because Shaun’s got a lot of different roles there at the minute, he’s not just assistant to Martin O’Neill. I think, effectively, Shaun kind of put the coaching staff together alongside Martin.
“And he’s been in charge of the recruitment, as well, in January. As we said, there’s no head of football operations in there anymore, with Paul Tisdale being gone. Nancy was, I think, Tisdale’s appointment as well.”
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