Martin O’Neill is involved in speaking to agents for Celtic targets this summer, according to Stephen McGowan.
Uncertainty remains about O’Neill’s future beyond this season at Celtic, on both ends. We don’t know if he wants to stay, and we don’t know if the club are seriously considering him as permanent manager.
Regardless, the recent avalanche of reports on Celtic summer transfer targets makes it clear that work is ongoing, with a significant rebuild ahead.
Amidst the vacuum of information, leading journalist McGowan has provided an update.
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
Stephen McGowan: Martin O’Neill involvement raises question over future Celtic role
Asked on the BBC’s Scottish football podcast if he has any update on their managerial search, McGowan said: “That would involve communication with supporters, wouldn’t it, and actually keeping in touch and letting people know what they’re up to…
“That’s not something that Celtic really do.
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“I think Martin O’Neill has been involved, certainly, in talking to agents about players for next season, which raises the question whether he is going to be there in some capacity or not, even if it’s not as first team manager.
“So they’ve probably got, probably, an unprecedented rebuild coming up in the summer.
“They need a permanent appointment as manager, they need that head of recruitment role filled, that Paul Tisdale occupied previously.
“I was doing a calculation… it wouldn’t surprise me if they need something like 18 players going out the door if that is the case, and they might try and bring in a dozen or so to replace them!
“Because they probably are a bit top-heavy at the moment. So I think there’s going to be an awful lot of change at Celtic in the summer.
“I think they’re already resigned to the fact that there’s going to be a bit of restructuring in the football department going on, through necessity.
“The exact composition of that? You may as well just ask me to name six lottery numbers on Saturday, because the fact is that they’re keeping their cards pretty close to their chest.”
Should Celtic make a decision on Martin O’Neill’s permanent future before the end of the season?
Will Martin O’Neill stay at Celtic beyond this season?
As McGowan says, before Celtic worry about deciding on their permanent manager, Celtic need to address their football structure after it was decimated this season.
Paul Tisdale’s role as Head of Football Operations was akin to a Director of Football role, which now lies vacant.
Michael Nicholson continues to face calls to resign from the Celtic Fans Collective, but despite the departure of chairman Peter Lawwell, this doesn’t look to be on the horizon.
Whoever it is making the decision in the summer will find it difficult to look beyond O’Neill if he can lead the Celts to the Scottish Premiership title.
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