For weeks Celtic fans were told that the delay in adding Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham to Martin O’Neill’s backroom team was down to money.
Reports were circulating that Celtic lowballed the two coaches as they tried to offer significant wage cuts to the pair.
However, Martin O’Neill has now offered a completely different explanation. The problem is that it doesn’t appear to fit everything Celtic supporters have heard over the past few weeks.
Thoughts on Martin O’Neill taking the blame for Maloney & Fozzy’s contract delay?
Are we buying this? Is O'Neill just protecting the board?
O’Neill takes blame for Celtic contract controversy
Speaking from Celtic’s pre-season training camp in Portugal, O’Neill says the delay in hiring Maloney and Fotheringham was his fault.
The Celtic boss told The Scottish Sun, “I didn’t honestly think I’d be here. The football club was looking at alternatives.
“All that thing about the backroom staff was totally down to me delaying too. Seriously. “That’s the point.
“It was my fault as much as anything else because there were roles going elsewhere.
“If a new manager was to step into the football club, he’d want his own staff and things like that. It was my delay to see whether I wanted to do it or not that was one of the reasons.
“Since coming back there has been no time whatsoever to even enjoy it. Absolutely none. It’s just been on top of us almost immediately.”
O’Neill’s comments appear genuine enough, but they leave one obvious question. If his decision was the main reason for the delay, why did the conversation continue for more than two weeks after Celtic confirmed him as manager?
Celtic supporters deserve the full picture
Celtic confirmed Martin O’Neill as the new manager on the 11th of June. Weeks after the season ended, the Parkhead club waited until getting the deal done.
However, it took a further 15 days for Celtic to tie down the coaching duo as reports continued to circulate that Dermot Desmond had a role to play in the contract negotiations.
If the delay was all down to hiring O’Neill originally, then why didn’t Celtic announce Maloney and Fotheringham the following day?
Something doesn’t quite add up here. O’Neill has offered one explanation, but it doesn’t sit comfortably alongside everything that surrounded Maloney and Fotheringham’s delayed appointments.
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