Martin O’Neill is seen as perhaps the only bridge between Celtic supporters and the club’s hierarchy.
The bond between those running the club and fans backing Celtic across the globe had fractured long before O’Neill’s return.
Demonstrations from Celtic supporters have continued and show no sign of easing, with the January transfer window highlighting just how mismanaged many feel things have become.
That situation is unlikely to improve, even with O’Neill doing all he can to steady the ship.
Martin O’Neill on there needing to be ‘reconciliation’ between everyone at Celtic
Celtic rejected a £25 million offer from Nottingham Forest for Arne Engels on transfer deadline day, and Jim White suggested on talkSPORT that the decision could help mend the strained relationship between the board and the supporters.
O’Neill is calling for “some sort of reconciliation between everyone” and pointed to the upbeat mood during Celtic’s recent Europa League clash with Utrecht at Celtic Park as an example of what is possible.
Jim White: “Do you hope the fans recognise what the board has done here by saying ‘no to £25m for Engels?’ Because I know Martin, and we know, ‘sack the board, sack the board’, we hear it all the time.
O’Neill: “I think now, I am hoping there will be some sort of reconciliation between everyone. I think that is absolutely necessary at the football club for us to go forward now. To get ourselves going. We have qualified, at least for another two games, for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
“The atmosphere against Utrecht was really good. But we could do with a reconciliation, no doubt about that.
Jim White continues to push O’Neill about the relationship between the Celtic board and fans
White kept pressing O’Neill on issues away from the pitch, suggesting that despite Celtic knocking back such a significant fee for Engels, the gap between the board and the fanbase remains wide.
The iconic Celtic boss conceded that the two sides are “not close” before pointedly asking the talkSPORT host what more he was expected to do.
White: “Martin, you spoke moments ago about, maybe, the message the board has sent out by saying no to the third bid from Forest of £25 million for Engels.
“That might bring about a bit of a reconciliation between the hardcore Celtic fans and the board. How far apart are they, at the moment?”
O’Neill: “Again, it’s a good question. Jim, I think, you think, that I just come up here and feel as if I am like some mediator that is trying to sort a few things out.
“I am up here to win a couple of football matches. If there is a bit of shenanigans going on in the background, I can’t do anything about that, at this minute.
“Seriously, when I get the opportunity, I shall try to join the peace cause sometimes, and try to work it out from there.”
White: “But they are far apart, Martin. We see the protests all the time.”
O’Neill: “Well, it’s not close. It’s not close. What do you want me to do, Jim?”
Simon Jordan: “He wants you to be a UN delegate.