Whether Martin O’Neill secures the Premiership title or not, the spotlight will firmly be on those in the Celtic boardroom in the summer.
After comfortably winning the double under Brendan Rodgers last season, Celtic have shot themselves in the foot like never before this term, and many people need to take accountability, including Dermot Desmond.
But come the summer, Frank McAvennie is fearful that Desmond, who calls the shots at Parkhead, won’t go down the road many think he will or should.
“I made a statement a couple of weeks ago,” said McAvennie. “I don’t think Dermot is going to spend much money. I don’t. The gap between the supporters, the board and Dermot is widening by the week.”
The Green Brigade are back in the building, which is brilliant news, especially just as the post-split fixtures were confirmed.
But come the summer, GB are going to be the least of Celtic’s worries because there are much bigger fish to fry.
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Frank McAvennie claims Dermot Desmond won’t spend in the summer
The first port of call is: who will be Celtic’s next manager? According to McAvennie, he has been told that O’Neill has been in talks with the powers that be at Parkhead about ‘next year.’
Now that could mean anything, from McAvennie’s perspective. From O’Neill helping out Celtic pick out a new manager to just going upstairs.
Remember, after O’Neill’s first spell in charge, Celtic rushed in Wilfried Nancy, and it’s a move they probably live to regret given how it all panned out.
But whoever is in the dugout, they will need serious backing via the transfer market, because as McAvennie stated on Let Me Be Frank, ‘that team isn’t good enough to go another year.’
This is exactly why it would be incredibly alarming if Desmond and the board tried to do things on the cheap.
If they fail to put a serious package on the table now, Celtic risk tumbling into an even darker place next season. Don’t drown the next man who takes to the Celtic Park dugout.
“If they are in talks with Martin O’Neill for next year, from what I have heard, Martin is in talks with them,” said McAvennie. “Whether it’s true or not.
“The one thing Martin will want is money because that team isn’t good enough to go another year. Maybe they are in talks with him regarding who do you think we should get? It’s a good source.
“I think that might be something to do with it (Martin moving upstairs). I don’t think Shaun can take over. I would want somebody to come in. That backroom staff looks pretty good. Shaun Maloney and Fozzy (Mark Fotheringham). I like them. They are good.
“I made a statement a couple of weeks ago. I don’t think Dermot is going to spend much money. I don’t. The gap between the supporters, the board and Dermot is widening by the week.
“If his boy (Ross) comes in, and he has just called everyone bullies and all of that. Then I am not sure that it’s going to get any better. Dermot is pulling the strings. Depends what manager comes in.
“Martin won’t want to stay if they aren’t spending money. That team, with the greatest will in the world, that team isn’t good enough to go next year.
“We have noticed it, as soon as we get injuries…bang! We are in big trouble.”
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