When you finally see some light at the end of the tunnel, the Celtic board somehow manage to hit the brakes and throw things right back into reverse.
The 2025/26 campaign ended on the highest of highs, even though it threatened to be an utter disaster for Celtic.
Everyone anticipated a rather quick announcement regarding Martin O’Neill staying on for next season, but the powers that be at Celtic opted to take their time.
Compounding the frustration and anger amongst the already fed-up supporters, reports began to circulate that O’Neill’s backroom staff, including Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, were being offered wage cuts.
This perceived penny-pinching has drawn sharp criticism from all angles, with pundits like Tam McManus highlighting the ‘totally and utterly bizarre’ nature of Celtic’s negotiations, as he told PLZ Soccer.
“Now you are talking about Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham to take wage cuts, which is totally and utterly bizarre,” said McManus.
“If any two guys earned the right to go in and ask what they want and get what they want, it’s those two. And Martin.”
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In truth, all of this shouldn’t be a surprise, and it’s one of many reasons why Celtic fans have protested against the board.
Even with Celtic winning the domestic double, that edge, frosty and broken relationship is yet to be repaired – and you sense it will never happen.
While O’Neill is working tirelessly to pull everyone in the same direction, it is becoming painfully clear that the old, stubborn habits of the Celtic hierarchy are incredibly hard to break.
McManus explained on PLZ Soccer how it was leaked to the media that O’Neill would stay on, yet it took Celtic a week to officially announce it.
“I felt as if Martin had won the double; there was only one man for the job going forward,” said McManus.
“I think he got his appetite back. He got his buzz back for football, and if he were offered it, he would take it. That’s what has happened.
“I think the way Celtic have gone about it is a bit of a shambles, to be honest. It was leaked, what? A week ago, he was the new manager. Celtic didn’t release it.
“Now you are talking about Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham to take wage cuts, which is totally and utterly bizarre.
“If any two guys earned the right to go in and ask what they want and get what they want, it’s those two. And Martin. A lot of Celtic fans will be unhappy with that as well. They all come as a team. There is a lot to be figured out at Celtic. I think they have the right man in charge.
“Hopefully, those two guys get settled as well, and they are beside him again because they were really important for Martin last season.”
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