Celtic find themselves starting over again following the dismissal of Wilfried Nancy.
Nancy was appointed in early December to succeed Martin O’Neill, even though the team had been thriving under O’Neill’s interim guidance. The move quickly backfired, as a sudden shift in style led to a sharp decline in results and performances.
Paul Tisdale has also left the club after playing a key role in bringing Nancy to Celtic. With both now gone, more detail has emerged about how the club approached its managerial search.
Although Nancy was Tisdale’s preferred choice, he was not the only candidate under consideration.
Gary O’Neil was on Celtic’s shortlist
Alongside more widely reported names such as Kjetil Knutsen, Kieran McKenna and Ange Postecoglou, Gary O’Neil was also discussed internally, despite attracting far less attention publicly.
O’Neil spent several years on Bournemouth’s coaching staff before taking over as interim manager in 2022. He guided the club away from relegation and stayed in charge until the end of that campaign. He later moved to Wolves, leading them to a 14th place finish in his first season before being dismissed midway through the following one.
Since leaving Wolves, O’Neil has been out of work. Speaking on talkSPORT, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs revealed that Celtic had previously explored the possibility of appointing him.
Jacobs said O’Neil was on the shortlist and is currently waiting to see if he lands the Strasbourg job. Any approach from Celtic would need to happen quickly, as he is close to joining the French club, a move that could allow Liam Rosenior to head to Chelsea. Jacobs also suggested there is a growing section of the support open to Martin O’Neill returning not just as a caretaker, but on a permanent basis.
Could Martin O’Neill stay for good?
O’Neill has repeatedly stated during both of his spells that he does not see himself as a long-term solution at Celtic. That stance remains despite his enduring popularity with supporters, which has only grown after his impressive interim run earlier this season.
Whether that position could change remains to be seen. Coaches such as Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus are all viewed as strong options within the game. However, if O’Neill were to guide Celtic to the league title, the pressure from the stands to keep him in charge may become impossible for the club to ignore.