(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Fri 20 March 2026 10:00, UK

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Celtic’s 2-2 draw at rivals Rangers could prove to be one of the major turning points in the Scottish Premiership title race.

That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who doesn’t think Rangers will recover from the “mental blow” of losing a two-goal lead against their title rivals.

Martin O’Neill’s experience could therefore prove the difference in the title race after Celtic and Rangers both closed the gap on league leaders Hearts to two points with victories in their latest fixtures.

O’Neill won three Scottish Premiership titles at Celtic during his first spell in charge of the club between 2000 and 2005, whilst Rohl is only five months into his job at Ibrox.

Celtic still need to play Rangers and Hearts again before the season finishes in May, with the title race set to go down to the wire.

Scottish title race set up for ‘fascinating finish’

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 – believes Wilfried Nancy’s reign at Celtic will be forgotten if O’Neill wins the Hoops the title.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness is predicting O’Neill to be a “crucial factor” in the final weeks of the season.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Martin O’Neill is going to sneak it in, which would be amazing if he does that. And then everybody is wondering who Wilfried Nancy was and whether that all a bad dream when Wilfried Nancy came to Celtic.

“If you were to ask me, that’s where I say it would go right now. But it’s going to be a fascinating finish. Of course, there can be lots of twists and turns, but I think that Martin O’Neill’s experience and the way he’s got the squad playing is going to be a crucial factor. And the way that they had that comeback at Rangers seemed to be a bit of a mental blow as well. 

“So it’s all to play for. At last, it’s an interesting league. I’d love Hearts to do it, and I wouldn’t mind if Rangers did it either, because Danny Rohl’s a good story as well coming in. But look, in the end, I think St. Martin is going to pull away.”

Celtic could cash in on Johnny Kenny

Sources have told Football Insider that Johnny Kenny’s future at Celtic Park is in doubt due to expected summer arrivals.

Kenny was loaned out to League One club Bolton after Celtic made an influx of attacking signings in the January window.

The 22-year-old failed to take his chance in the team earlier in the season, with a new striker viewed as a priority for the club ahead of next season.