Keith Wyness: Celtic fans handed ‘stronger cards to play’ vs board after latest reveal
The Celtic board are going to find it very difficult to move forward next season without Martin O’Neill in the dugout.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as pressure from the Celtic fanbase continues to increase on the board.
It was revealed in Celtic’s latest financial accounts that matchday revenue made 42% of their overall revenue last season, and some supporters have taken part in boycotts at games this season in order to send a message to the club’s hierarchy.
Celtic fans threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest of the club’s ownership against Stuttgart, whilst action has already forced former chairman Peter Lawwell to step down from his role.
Celtic board in ‘very difficult place right now’
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 – states that the Celtic board needs O’Neill to win them the league this season.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the Hoops have little chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season, which could have helped against fan protests.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Now without St. Martin, St. Martin O’Neill coming to the rescue, it’s very hard to see how they can go forward unless Martin does a miracle and wins the league, keeps the fan base quiet and gets them right behind.
“The question will then be if Martin goes at the end of the season, which he talked about, who will come in? Will it be another Wilfrid Nancy experiment? Who knows? But it’s going to be difficult.
“Certainly that 42% is a big number of revenue. And as I say, European or Champions League football is looking very, very remote at the moment with the coefficient and certainly with the quality of the Celtic squad at the moment.
“And without Martin O’Neill’s experience there for next season, I think it’d be very hard. So the board are in a very difficult place right now and the fan base at the moment is starting to get stronger cards to play.”
New name enters race for Celtic job
Recently sacked Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has entered the equation to become the next permanent manager of Celtic.
Frank, who enjoyed a successful seven years at Brentford being moving to Spurs, is still behind many names in the running for the job.
Roberto Martinez and Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou remain the favourites to replace O’Neill at Celtic Park in the summer.