Things at Celtic appeared to spiral even further following Martin O’Neill’s departure from the club just over two weeks ago.
The iconic former manager had helped restore a sense of belief in Glasgow, delivering notable victories over Rangers and Feyenoord. However, Wilfried Nancy’s tenure soon unravelled dramatically, with Celtic losing his opening four matches, including a painful League Cup final defeat to St Mirren.
O’Neill responds to Lawwell exit
O’Neill was in attendance when last month’s Celtic AGM descended into chaos before being abandoned, giving him a front-row view of the fractured relationship between supporters and the board.
Appearing on talkSPORT, O’Neill was questioned by Jim White about Peter Lawwell’s decision to step down and the claims that sustained abuse and threats forced his hand. Shortly after, Lawwell resigned as chairman, delivering what many fans had been demanding — a change at boardroom level.
While supporter frustration with the club’s hierarchy remains intense, O’Neill’s perspective is unlikely to resonate positively with much of the fanbase. He was openly critical of the way Lawwell had been treated and called for the hostility to stop.
Jim White challenged O’Neill on the perception among some supporters that claims of abuse were exaggerated or unfounded. O’Neill rejected that view outright, stressing that while frustration is understandable, crossing personal lines is not.
He warned that once criticism extends to families, it becomes unacceptable and urged fans to pause and reflect on the consequences of such behaviour.
O’Neill also made clear he was not defending the board out of loyalty, despite Dermot Desmond having played a role in appointing him years earlier. He described managing Celtic as a privilege but said what he witnessed recently went beyond disagreement, describing the atmosphere as “mayhem,” particularly at the AGM.
Warning to Celtic supporters
Despite Celtic’s sustained dominance in Scottish football — highlighted by numerous league titles, domestic trophies, and Trebles — O’Neill admitted his views could “really upset” supporters.
He questioned whether ongoing unrest eventually spills onto the pitch, noting that while players from different cultures may initially be insulated from the noise, the effects inevitably surface over time.
O’Neill acknowledged that Celtic have enjoyed remarkable success over the past two decades, amassing close to 40 trophies, but suggested supporters must accept that downturns are sometimes unavoidable.
Drawing comparisons to the 1990s, he reminded fans that the club has endured lean periods before and always recovered. According to O’Neill, Celtic will rise again — but only more quickly if unity and togetherness are restored throughout the club.
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