Martin O’Neill is perhaps the only glue between the Celtic fans and the board.
The relationship between those in charge and those supporting Celtic from around the world had broken well before O’Neill returned to the club.
The protests from Celtic fans haven’t stopped, and won’t stop, with the January transfer window proving just how everything is poorly run.
That won’t change, even though O’Neill is trying his best to make it work.
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The first thing I would do if I was on the Celtic board is – – – –
Martin O’Neill on there needing to be ‘reconciliation’ between everyone at Celtic
Celtic turned down £25 million for Arne Engels from Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, and Jim White suggested on talkSPORT that it could be used to repair the damaged relationship between the fans and the board.
O’Neill is hoping for ‘some sort of reconciliation between everyone’, and explained how positive the atmosphere was against Utrecht in the Europa League recently at Celtic Park.
Jim White: “Do you hope the fans recognise what the board has done here by saying ‘no to £25m for Engels?’ Because I know Martin, and we know, ‘sack the board, sack the board’, we hear it all the time.”
O’Neill: “I think now, I am hoping there will be some sort of reconciliation between everyone. I think that is absolutely necessary at the football club for us to go forward now. To get ourselves going. We have qualified, at least for another two games, for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
“The atmosphere against Utrecht was really good. But we could do with a reconciliation, no doubt about that.”
Jim White continues to push O’Neill about the relationship between the Celtic board and fans
White continued to push O’Neill on off-field matters, including how everyone is ‘far apart’, even with Celtic turning down such huge money for Engels.
Celtic’s legendary coach admitted that it’s ‘not close’, but proceeded to ask the talkSPORT presenter, ‘What do you want me to do?’
White: “Martin, you spoke moments ago about, maybe, the message the board has sent out by saying no to the third bid from Forest of £25 million for Engels.
“That might bring about a bit of a reconciliation between the hardcore Celtic fans and the board. How far apart are they, at the moment?”
O’Neill: “Again, it’s a good question. Jim, I think, you think, that I just come up here and feel as if I am like some mediator that is trying to sort a few things out.
“I am up here to win a couple of football matches. If there is a bit of shenanigans going on in the background, I can’t do anything about that, at this minute.
“Seriously, when I get the opportunity, I shall try to join the peace cause sometimes, and try to work it out from there.”
White: “But they are far apart, Martin. We see the protests all the time.”
O’Neill: “Well, it’s not close. It’s not close. What do you want me to do, Jim?”
Simon Jordan: “He wants you to be a UN delegate.”
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