Martin O’Neill sends surprise message of solidarity to Brendan Rodgers

Martin O’Neill has sent a strong message of support to Brendan Rodgers.

Exactly a month ago Celtic announced the resignation of Rodgers. The same statement announced that O’Neill would be leading the interim management team alongside Shaun Maloney.

Without doubt recruitment issues were a major factor in Rodgers’ decision to quit in mid-season.

Alongside delivering four domestic trophies the former Liverpool boss started the process of repairing Celtic’s horrific European record.

One home win in the previous in the Champions League over the previous decade was wiped out during the 24/25 season.

NICHOLSON’S MANAGED DECLINE

Celtic won three home matches, picked up 12 points from eight matches to earn a Play-Off place for the Round of 16.

At exactly that moment corporate Celtic struck. Kyogo Furuhashi was sold and not replaced. Not in January, not in the summer.

While Michael Nicholson dazzled the suits with his fund raising he decimated the first team squad.

When Celtic faced Kairat Almaty in a Champions League Play Off Nicholson had also sold off Nicolas Kuhn, again without attempting to find a replacement.

Celtic failed to score over 210 minutes against the champions of Kazakhstan.

While Rodgers was trying to prepare a team for those matches Nicholson was trying to sell Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun. He managed one out of three. Leaving two unhappy players, And a very frustrated manager.

KAIRAT CALAMITY

After losing out to Kairat Nicholson went to work. Signing two left wingers, an out of contract striker and a left-back on loan from Argentina.

It was only going to be a matter of time before Rodgers left. He had made it clear that his ambitions were in Europe. Not staying one point ahead of Celtic’s O** F*** business partners.

After six matches as interim boss it looks like O’Neill will hand the baton on to Wilfried Nancy.

After a quick look at the recruitment shambles O’Neill has a word of warning for the incoming Frenchman.

O’NEILL ISSUES RECRUITMENT WARNING

If you have recruited a manager, that is fine but player recruitment is essential, it’s really important.

Last year in terms of Europe it was like a nice, shining light, as if you could push on. Then you step back again and it’s not so strong.

In the next couple of years, Celtic will come again in European football. They might just have to step back for a while at this minute, but recruitment is really important.

I know people always say about January being a difficult window, and it may well be but if you’re talking about rebuilding the club to try to compete in Europe, and to be able to not have a big intake of breath when someone expects you to go to Feyenoord and win, then that is the point.

Jock Stein said it, European football is where Celtic should be but at this minute it’s a struggle for us.

During his first spell as Celtic manager O’Neill warned against life in the slow lane.

After reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup Final Celtic signed Micky Gray on loan and gave Stan Varga a permanent contract.

Celtic were knocked out of the 2003/04 Champions League at the group stage. Porto went on to win the trophy.

Failing to build on success seems to be part of the Celtic DNA.

Asked about the strengths of the squad Nancy would inherit the 73-year-old was kind of blunt!

O’NEILL ON THE CELTIC SQUAD

Well, they have got a great captain in the side, a very good player who has pulled us out.

He scored the goal against Rangers that was really important in extra time, and scored the one last weekend, which was an even better goal, he struck it brilliantly.

And there’s a number of boys here who have been winners. That’s good. I think the new fella will have to lean on those boys along the way.

We’ve got a group of younger boys who haven’t really been doing that sort of winning, and who maybe don’t really know what the club’s all about.

The new manager will be expected to get a tune out of the carnage inflicted by Mark Lawwell and Paul Tisdale.

Not since January 2022 has the Celtic squad been improved during a transfer window. Lawwell Mini started in July 2022.

The former Exeter boss will be in charge of recruitment in January while Nicholson tries to sell Maeda and others.

O’Neill was seen as a safe pair of hands for the Celtic board. Charm the media with gags about how old he is, stories about Brian Clough and Jock Stein.

After a month inside Celtic it looks like his parting shot is to highlight the issues that forced Rodgers into resigning.

Nicholson hasn’t spoke in public since June 2023 when Rodgers returned as manager. Fans will be listening closely for his world class comments when Rodgers’ successor is introduced.