‘This might really upset a lot of Celtic fans’ – Martin O’Neill makes admission amid board outrage
Martin O’Neill has weighed in on the ongoing dispute between Celtic fans and the club’s board of directors.
At the start of December, O’Neill left Celtic as Wilfried Nancy arrived, with the Northern Irishman departing as a Parkhead hero.
The former Aston Villa manager had returned to take interim charge in the wake of Brendan Rodgers‘ resignation, and led his team to seven wins from eight.
Behind the scenes, outrage against the board was already in full flight. In November, Celtic’s annual general meeting was abandoned as the fans protested.
Last week, Peter Lawwell stepped down as Celtic chairman, citing “abuse and threats” in a huge new development.
Martin O’Neill defends Celtic board
In a statement following the announcement of his resignation, Lawwell said: “I believe I have shown my ability to meet and overcome challenges on many fronts, but abuse and threats from some sources have increased and are now intolerable, they have dismayed and alarmed my family.”
Months of outrage appear to have reached a boiling point at Celtic, with fans staging a demonstration before Sunday’s game.
Nancy managed to keep things on the pitch positive, at least, earning his first win in charge of the Bhoys with a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen.
But the anger has continued to bubble under the surface amid calls for further board members to join Lawwell in resigning.
At the start of the month, Celtic extended the ban on the Green Brigade, the club’s supporters group, with the suspension set to stay in place indefinitely until decision-makers are satisfied that safe operation of the stadium can continue.
Asked about the situation by talkSPORT on Monday, O’Neill said: “This might really upset a lot of Celtic fans in this sense that there has been great success over the last 20-odd years, 38 trophies.
“Sometimes you can have a dip, it happens and it happened to Celtic before then. In the 90s, I think they won maybe three trophies in 10 years or whatever the case may be.
“Celtic will come again but Celtic will come more quickly, if there is a sort of a spirit there, a togetherness, and that has got to come.”
O’Neill slams Peter Lawwell abuse
O’Neill was asked about his thoughts on Lawwell’s decision to step down, and the allegations that the ex-chairman was sent abuse.
“No I don’t accept that at all,” he said. “You can be frustrated as a football fan, you can, but please, taking it out in the manner in which they’ve done, as Peter mentions, the abuse is ‘intolerable’, and it is strong.
“When it gets to your family, listen, you’ve got to stop, you’ve got to really, really stop and think about this here.”
O’Neill clarified that he does not want to be seen as an “apologist” for the Celtic board, but he urged fans to voice their frustrations in a different way.
While the Northern Irishman is a beloved figure at Parkhead, his comments are unlikely to see an end to the mayhem engulfing the club.
Further developments are expected in the months ahead, with Nancy hoping to keep his team away from the anger.