The transfer crisis at Celtic appears to be reaching breaking point.
With just over 24 hours remaining the successful model that Dermot Desmond highlighted in October has been shown up to be a complete myth.
Without the brilliance of Brendan Rodgers or Ange Postecoglou Celtic are a shambles at every level.
Recruitment is currently in the spotlight. Next month it could be the decaying stadium or the non-existent youth policy.
Celtic Park looks shabby at best. Certainly neglected. The same could be said for the youth ‘academy’. No one is fooled by the £12m white elephant known as Barrowfield.
The current recruitment shambles has been long in the making. What else would you expect from a regime that thought Mark Lawwell and Paul Tisdale were would class appointments?
This weekend things have come fully into focus.
Michael Nicholson’s complete failure to do his job as Chief Executive Officer is reflected in the first team squad.
PUNTS AND PROJECTS WITH MVUKA AND AMADU AS NICHOLSON HIDES
When the club is racing to bring in signings of the calibre of Joel Mvuka and Junior Amadu you know you are in trouble. After 32 days of transfer activity Celtic are the lifeboat for two players that have made the same sort of impression this season as Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Details of those deals, apparently undergoing medicals surfaced shortly before kick off time today. Tellingly Nicholson and Chris McKay opted out of today’s fan engagement.
Worryingly the Arne Engels links to Nottingham Forest are growing stronger.
Be in no doubt that selling the Belgian would delight Nicholson and the spreadsheet lads. A big earner removed, a Brendan Rodgers signing no longer around. The chance to make a bumper profit on the season and pay another huge wedge in Corporation Tax. The Peter Lawwell Template.
The support against Falkirk was superb. From the Traitors banner through to ‘Stand Up If You Hate The Board’ the sentiments were clear. Around 80% of the fans at the match joined in. The Collective isn’t Green Brigade or Ultras driven sideshow.
The Collective are in it for the long term, this isn’t about one or two bad transfer windows.
even the auld farts next to me who don’t normally get involved were belting it out 😆
— POB 🍉 (@pobheid) February 1, 2026
NICHOLSON- THE FAKE CEO OF CELTIC
The CEO has meekly conceded all power to an elderly golfer that barely shows up for matches. At this time of the year transfer activity is dependent on tee-off times in the Caribbean.
Every club and agent in football know the Celtic set up.
Dealings for 90% of the transfer window is a waste of time. Nicholson barely has authority to sign off for his wine bill on company business.
Desmond must be terrified by the summer wastage. £10m in transfer fees plus five year contracts for Sebastian Tounekti and Balikwisha.
Those dud deals have compounded the problems that Celtic face this weekend.
Discussions, confirmed by O’Neill with Frosinone for Fares Ghedjemis came to a shuddering halt. Anthony Joseph and the messengers were led another mery dance.
Leadership and decisiveness are two qualities that have never been associated with Nicholson. Obedience, yes. Apparently he is a leading sports lawyer. The evidence to back that up is elusive.
With his friend, hero and mentor no longer Chairman the spotlight is all on Nicholson. Exactly the scenario that he goes out of his way to avoid throughout his mediocre career.
O’NEILL’S ROLE- HAS BE BEEN DUPED/ROGERED?
O’Neill has navigated his way through the transfer window expertly. Not that difficult with the docile hacks that question him every few days.
The master of deflection leaves everything wide open, every option.
A joke or two about his age, a comment on the youth of those questioning him and everyone is slapping their thighs in delight.
Deep down O’Neill never returned to try and manage some project signings, players that could have been identified by Paul Tisdale.
Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara appear the real deal, players with substance on their CVs.
Mvuka and Amadu appear to be of the ‘calibre’ of Balikwisha, Tounekti and the already brandished duo of Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura.
There is virtually no margin for error in Celtic’s title challenge.
Despite the handicaps created by Nicholson O’Neill is delivering victories from a squad of at most14 players.
Since the start of 2025 Celtic have gone backwards, fallen in to the standards of the SPFL rather than towards Champions League levels.
Now O’Neill has to carry the wreckage through until the end of the season. He might win the SPFL, he might fall short.
The fans know the guilty parties, they won’t be forgotten or forgiven. O’Neill might bail them out but they all know that the summer rebuild is miles beyond their capabilities.
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