Celtic took an age to officially unveil Martin O’Neill as their manager for next season, despite the media breaking the story around ten days prior.
It’s just part of the problem at Celtic, and how the club aren’t pro-active or ambitious, especially when they go looking for a new coach.
Don’t get it twisted, Celtic fans are delighted O’Neill is staying on, but the champions of Scotland shouldn’t be relying on a 74-year-old to get them back to winning ways, regardless of his legendary status.
Tony Watt spent several years in Glasgow before leaving in 2014, and he told Open Goal that Celtic’s manager model always consisted of them thinking ‘six months’ ahead.
“The maddest thing is that they have got an ex-Celtic manager from 20 years ago. An ex-Celtic player of ten years ago (Craig Bellamy links), and an ex-Celtic player of 15 years ago (Robbie Keane links),” said Watt.
“Who is drawing up this shortlist? I was always of the opinion that Celtic were working on a model that they always had their next manager planned. They always had six months.
“So, for instance, if they knew Ange was going in six months. They would have their next manager; that’s what I was always led to believe. How true it is, I am not so sure.”
Another Celtic backroom staff member linked away…
Tony Watt thinks Celtic fan protests now proving its worth
On paper, Celtic have dominated Scottish football like nobody before, so it’s hard for those from the outside to understand why fans protest.
It was only put to a standstill last season for the post-split fixtures, and it worked, as Celtic romped to a domestic double in fine style.
But Watt thinks that during the past 12 months, with Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy, and O’Neill (twice) taking to the dugout, his former side haven’t acted like a ‘big club.’
The longer this goes on, the Partick Thistle forward thinks it further proves why the Celtic Park faithful have been protesting so much.
Even though 14 out of the last 15 titles have been won by those in green and white, Watt thinks it’s just proving further that there is ‘something wrong.’
“Maybe they aren’t ready to appoint a manager (long-term),” said Watt. “Maybe they need to change the football inside. The departments above.
“If they rush into another Nancy. Then everybody is gone. Every single person above that footballing level is gone out of the building, so I think Martin O’Neill saves them a bit of time.
“I think O’Neill is the right appointment for the next year. If they back him and if they get Champions League.
“The maddest thing is that they have got an ex-Celtic manager from 20 years ago. An ex-Celtic player of ten years ago (Craig Bellamy links), and an ex-Celtic player of 15 years ago (Robbie Keane links).
“Who is drawing up this shortlist? I was always of the opinion that Celtic were working on a model that they always had their next manager planned. They always had six months.
“So, for instance, if they knew Ange was going in six months. They would have their next manager; that’s what I was always led to believe. How true it is, I am not so sure.
“Celtic are a big club. But they haven’t been acting like it for the last year and a half. Everybody used to say, ‘It’s mad the fans are going against the board.’
“The longer they don’t start cleaning up the house. The more people go, ‘By the way, I know they have won 14 out of 15 titles, or whatever it is. But there is something wrong there.’”
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