Martin O'Neill could leave the Celtic hot seat over the backroom staff debacle that is hanging over his permanent appointment, according to veteran sportswriter and close confidant Graham Spiers.
O'Neill's Frustration Reaches Breaking Point
The 74-year-old was unveiled by the Hoops on a one-year deal on June 11 after leading the club to a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, but mentions of his coaching team were notably absent from the announcement. During both of his interim spells last term, Shaun Maloney stepped away from his post as Celtic Professional Player Pathway Manager to act as O'Neill's No. 2. Having coached in Germany and England, Mark Fotheringham was also added to the set-up by the veteran Irishman.
The pair have been in talks over returning alongside the veteran Irishman this term but have yet to come to an agreement. Spiers, who regards O'Neill as a friend and regularly hosts speaking events with the legendary boss, has speculated that the legendary Celtic gaffer could be reaching a breaking point after just 13 days.
Spiers: O'Neill 'Deeply Frustrated' to Point of 'Near-Despair'
Writing on his Press Box Patreon page, Spiers said: 'Might Martin O’Neill get so frustrated with this current Celtic imbroglio over contracts that he simply walks away? Heads back down to London, to peace and quiet, maybe some fresh media work, safe in the knowledge that he has already elevated the modern Celtic once more? I will hazard this guess…that O’Neill is deeply frustrated by the goings-on at Celtic this summer, to a point of near-despair.'
Spiers added: 'Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, his two trusted assistants, both highly valued by O’Neill, were asked to come back and take up the reins on reduced terms. This is quite the temerity by Celtic, to ask the men who helped land last season’s unlikely Double, to come back on wage-cuts. It also seems to me a sheer disrespect for O’Neill, the architect of Celtic’s most recent success, to treat his valued assistants in this way.'
Desmond Behind Contract Stalemate
The saga of Maloney’s and Fotheringham’s new contracts has dragged on and on. Right now, at the time of writing, they are still unresolved, even while the Celtic squad is just days away from returning for pre-season. Dermot Desmond, the significant shareholder who historically has done so much for Celtic, is the man behind it all. Desmond has proved hard to budge on what he believes to be the unfair financial demands being made by Maloney and Fotheringham.
Spiers continued: 'Might Martin himself despair of all this? As this all meanders on might he be tempted to think: “I’m out of here. I don’t need all the stress and hassle.” In recent years O’Neill’s life in London had been sweet. He was still in demand, still doing media work, still selling-out theatre In Conversations when he wanted to. Away from Celtic, life wasn’t just easier, it was very good.'
Spiers concluded: 'If Celtic don’t resolve this soon, a brassed-off O’Neill might well think it is time he stepped away. The clock is ticking. Celtic desperately need to announce a resolution.'
