The press was able to sit down and ask Martin O’Neill questions for the first time ahead of the new 2026/27 season at the weekend.
Celtic hosted Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly at Parkhead, with O’Neill talking to the press after the 1-1 draw.
As expected, many hot topics were brought up, including whether O’Neill has spoken to Callum McGregor about his future, because he stated that he is going to do so.
But the Celtic boss, who isn’t shy to showcase his humour, joked with the media about how he was too busy ‘drinking with the press boys.’
This topic was brought up by Simon Houston and Frank McAvennie on their Let Me Be Frank Podcast, and how O’Neill needs to start being serious with answering questions to the press.
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Is Martin O’Neill giving straight answers in his press conferences?
Simon Houston: “Martin O’Neill was asked by the journalist. Have you spoken to Callum about staying? And he just made a joke about, ‘No, I was too busy drinking with the press boys.’
“It was tongue-in-cheek. But this isn’t time for jokes. A few of my pals have said this; sometimes it’s difficult to get a straight answer out of him because he is trying to make jokes all the time.”
McAvennie: “He is doing that because he doesn’t know.”
Houston: “Well, say that.”
McAvennie: “He doesn’t know.”
Houston: “He can turn around with a breath of fresh air…”
McAvennie: “He was doing that. But maybe Dermot is saying, ‘stop saying that.’”
Houston: “Therein lies the deeper problem there. Is he too tight with Dermot Desmond? He doesn’t want to offend him?”
McAvennie: “You can’t stumble over the line again. We have Europe in four weeks.”
O’Neill won’t stop protecting the board
Whether fans like it or not, O’Neill will continue to be a shield for the board in his interviews and press conferences.
It is perhaps annoying that he sometimes doesn’t give a straight answer, but then again, there is a reason why he has been in the game for a long time.
Regardless of what happens with Celtic for the rest of the 2026 summer transfer window, expect this to continue.
But the other problem is, and this isn’t O’Neill’s fault, he is the only constant voice talking about off-field matters.
As everyone knows, the Celtic board hardly communicate with fans, and if it does happen, it’s via the club channel and scripted questions.
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