Celtic's Martin O'Neill appointment is misguided and sums up British football's least ambitious board
Celtic are set to appoint Martin O'Neill as their new permanent boss in another move that highlights their owners' lack of long-term ambition.
O'Neill returned to Parkhead as interim boss last October and won seven of his eight games in charge before Wilfried Nancy was appointed as their new manager on a full-time basis.
The Frenchman was dismissed after just 33 days in charge and replaced by O'Neill in January as he signed a short-term deal until the end of the season.
He led the Hoops to a domestic double last month after a dramatic Premiership title race, leaving on a high for their new permanent manager to arrive this summer.
O'Neill is set to sign a one-year contract as Celtic's permanent boss, and while he has done a stellar job recently, such a move will only highlight the absence of ambition from their board.
Celtic needed to move on from Martin O'Neill for long-term stability
O'Neill's contribution to Celtic's Premiership glory cannot be understated, after they claimed 59 points from a possible 69 available during his two spells at the helm.
He refused to rule out staying at Parkhead beyond the end of the campaign, but did hint at being ready to end his managerial career after enjoying a great return to the club.
Celtic have been linked to a whole host of other bosses in recent months, but failed to appoint any and have been left scrambling for options in recent weeks.
Jens Berthel Askou joined Toulouse, while links to Robbie Keane were met with real opposition from many Hoops supporters and a move for Kieran McKenna always seemed too ambitious.
The one thing the Parkhead board should not have done is go back to O'Neill, but they are now set to hand him a one-year deal with the option of another season at the helm.
O'Neill is 74-years-old and last held a permanent managerial role in 2013, so it does feel like his recent success has clouded the judgement of the Celtic board.
They will now be left in the exact same boat either next summer or in 2028, which shows how they lack long-term ambition to pull away from Hearts and Rangers, and are simply happy to just be slightly ahead of the pair for the time being.
What has Stiliyan Petrov said about O'Neill's imminent appointment?
Petrov and O'Neill shared a close relationship during the former's playing days, as they worked together at Celtic and Aston Villa.
The ex-Bulgarian international insisted to Sky Sports that he is glad that O'Neill is set to take the reins permanently at Celtic again, but did doubt whether he can repeat his impressive feats from 2025-26.
He said: "I’m actually surprised that they only offered him a one-year deal. It should’ve been a two-year deal.
"I’m actually surprised. I thought that Celtic would offer Martin a new, different role, more relaxed, but it seems like they love this way.
“His skills and his ability to win major honours…he has obviously justified his appointment, and I hope and wish him all the best for next season.
“He’ll be about 102 by the time that deal flies! No, listen, one-year deal, they just want to stabilise the club. But there is a question: can he win again next year? What’s going to happen?"