Celtic Boss Confirms Oxlade-Chamberlain Signing Amid Club Turmoil
Martin O'Neill has officially announced that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is scheduled for a medical examination today, paving the way for the midfielder to sign a short-term contract with Celtic. The 32-year-old, who has earned 35 caps for England and previously played for Arsenal and Liverpool, has been without a club since his departure from Turkish side Besiktas in August. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been maintaining his fitness by training with Arsenal, but O'Neill anticipates adding him to the squad for the remainder of the season, starting with tonight's Scottish Cup match against Dundee at Parkhead.
O'Neill's Delight and Expectations for the Midfielder
In a statement yesterday, O'Neill expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'I spoke to him this morning, I think he wants to come and I think he's coming.' He acknowledged that Oxlade-Chamberlain likely had multiple offers, including potential interest from Arsenal, where he has been training, due to injury concerns. 'I'm delighted that he's going to come, so he says,' O'Neill added. 'So I think he's doing a medical tomorrow and, all being well, I'm hoping that he signs on.' The midfielder spent two seasons with Besiktas before being released in May, and O'Neill is eager to work with him in the coming months.
O'Neill emphasized Oxlade-Chamberlain's commitment, noting, 'This boy is here to try and play, and try and get into the team, and try and get as fit as possible as quickly as possible.' He believes the addition will benefit the squad, at least for the next couple of months. However, the signing comes too late for Oxlade-Chamberlain to be included in Celtic's Europa League fixtures against Stuttgart later this month.
Fan Protests and Boardroom Tensions at Parkhead
The arrival of Oxlade-Chamberlain coincides with significant internal strife at Celtic, as a civil war brews between fans and the board, with supporters themselves divided over a proposed boycott. The Celtic Fans Collective, representing hundreds of groups, has announced plans for protests, beginning with the cup game against Dundee, due to ongoing frustrations with the board's leadership.
The umbrella group has reiterated demands for the removal of chief executive Michael Nicholson, the reinstatement of the banned Green Brigade ultras group, and the restoration of access for fan media outlets. In response, interim chairman Brian Wilson has initiated outreach to supporter groups in an effort to foster unity. O'Neill is advocating for a middle ground to prevent the situation from becoming what he describes as 'debilitating.'
O'Neill's Call for Dialogue and Resolution
The 73-year-old manager stressed the importance of addressing the issues head-on. 'What I would like, if it's at all possible, is some meetings which I think Mr Wilson said was going to take place, which is a big step forward,' he said. 'Let's find out what all the ailments are and let's see if we can rectify some of them, because going forward the club will trip itself up if that's the case. Eventually it's debilitating and it does affect people.'
O'Neill highlighted Celtic's traditional sense of togetherness, expressing concern over the current discord. 'And Celtic have always prided themselves in a sort of togetherness, and it is strange, really, for it to be in this shape. So we do need the fans in.' He referenced comments from Falkirk manager John McGlynn, who warned that the atmosphere at Parkhead could quickly turn toxic, a sentiment O'Neill finds troubling from an opposition perspective.
While acknowledging that meetings might not resolve issues before the Dundee game, O'Neill urged for discussions ahead of potential protests at the Stuttgart match. 'Maybe these meetings might be too late before tomorrow's game, but if they're talking about some sort of show at Stuttgart, I think we should try and have some sort of talks before then.' He concluded by calling for a compromise, stating, 'There has to be a middle ground somewhere along the way, as to how quickly we can reach that is probably in the lap of the Gods. But it would just be nice to know what all of the complaints are about or the club's attempt at least to rectify those.'
