Celtic could agree two new signings after confirmed Martin O’Neill news
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill could target two new additions to bolster his squad for the second half of the season.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who thinks Celtic need to back O’Neill’s judgement on signings.
O’Neill has returned to Celtic for a second spell in interim charge this season following the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.
Celtic fans slammed the club’s summer recruitment, with pressure on the board to invest in the squad in January.
Celtic should ‘trust Martin O’Neill’s judgement’
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Celtic will strengthen their squad in January.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes O’Neill can get the best out of the squad he has already got at his disposal.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Martin O’Neill won seven out of eight with the same squad. So, you know, he did succeed pretty well. So it shows that with the right attitude and with the right formations and tactics, they can get a result.
“It was Wilfred Nancy that seemed to want to change everything and play players out of position and change different formations to suit him rather than suit the squad. Martin O’Neill went in and did what he did with the players he’s got. Yes, of course, every squad and every manager I’ve ever met is always just two players short.
“They always want two more players regardless, and I’m sure Martin O’Neill is going to be exactly the same going forward. But you know, you would trust Martin O’Neill’s judgement, wouldn’t you? More than Wilfried Nancy’s in the January window. And he may have some time left to get a couple of players in.
“And [Shaun] Maloney will have been there. Apparently he was taking first team training already. So they’ll have an idea, they’ll have talked about it already as to who they would bring in. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Celtic strengthen. But as I say, know, maybe not in the way that Nancy would have done and in a way that would make sense to Celtic fans.”
Celtic make behind the scenes reshuffle
O’Neill’s appointment at Celtic has meant a reshuffle behind the scenes, with B team manager Stephen McManus moving into a first team role.
Jonny Hayes will now manage Celtic’s B team on an interim basis until the end of the season, when McManus will resume the position.
O’Neill has no intention of remaining at Celtic beyond the end of this season, with the club set to recruit a new manager in the summer.