Hugh Keevins has claimed Celtic have not spoken to any of the managerial candidates linked with the club, a suggestion that raises major questions about the board’s planning if accurate.
Martin O’Neill’s second interim spell of the season delivered a league and Scottish Cup double for Celtic.
For now, no one knows if the legend will be offered the job on a permanent basis. However, Celtic fans would at least expect the club to be speaking to names as the summer search for a new boss continues, right?
Not according to Keevins, they are not as the journalist claims, “My understanding is that Celtic have not had dialogue with any of the managerial names linked with the club.”
If it comes down to these two… who are you picking as Celtic manager?
Celtic ‘not had dialogue’ with any candidates for manager’s job
Writing in the Sunday Mail, Keevins stated: “If O’Neill is to be beguiled into hanging around he’ll need to know that he’s shopping in Waitrose, as opposed to Asda, and his recommendations for players are followed through without question.
“My understanding is that Celtic have not had dialogue with any of the managerial names linked with the club.
“If O’Neill declines to stay they are back to square one – a state otherwise known as being up the creek without a paddle.
“Time is marching on and a man with significant control would surely understand that managers talk to each other.
“That means, of course, the word could get around that Celtic want champagne on a lemonade budget and are therefore to be avoided.
“O’Neill has the supporter base in the palm of his hand and a Celtic fan of status, Lord Willie Haughey, is spending fortunes trying to get a fan accepted on to the board to improve customer relations.
“It is a delicate time in the affairs of a club where volatility is never far away.”
That is not a criticism of who Celtic may eventually appoint. It is a concern about whether the club is as advanced in its thinking as supporters would reasonably expect at such an important stage.
Celtic cannot afford to be starting from scratch
The standout claim from Keevins is that Celtic have not spoken to any of the names publicly linked with the vacancy. If that information is correct, it inevitably raises questions about the club’s succession planning.
No supporter expects Celtic to publicly reveal every move they make behind the scenes. However, there is a significant difference between keeping discussions private and appearing to have no meaningful dialogue with potential candidates at all.
Keevins believes the consequences could be severe if Martin O’Neill decides against remaining in place. His warning that Celtic could find themselves back at square one should not be dismissed lightly.
This is not about panic. It is about preparation. Clubs of Celtic’s size should have contingency plans ready long before major decisions reach a critical stage.
Celtic’s next move will define the mood around the club
The broader concern raised by Keevins is one of perception. His suggestion that managers could view Celtic as wanting “champagne on a lemonade budget” speaks to the importance of how the club is regarded within football circles.
Whether supporters agree with Keevins or not, reputation matters. Managers talk, agents talk and clubs are constantly judged on their ambition, structure and willingness to support key football decisions.
Keevins also connected the managerial situation to wider issues around supporter relations and governance. That backdrop makes the Celtic board’s next move even more significant.
This is why the coming weeks matter so much. The issue is not simply who gets the job. It is whether Celtic can demonstrate that there is a clear strategy behind the decision.
If Keevins’ information is accurate, the board now has an opportunity to reassure Celtic supporters that the club is moving forward with purpose rather than reacting to events as they unfold.
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