The worrying rumour about Martin O'Neill

Five days after the big Martin O’Neill announcement there has still been no word from Celtic on the appointment of a permanent manager.

Friday’s 5pm choreographed announcement seemed perfect to tidy things up over the weekend followed by a Stock Market announcement first thing on Monday.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have followed with nothing from the club. A Stock Market announcement isn’t required for the appointment of a manager.

Stephen McGowan of the Herald, Michael Gannon at the Record and Robert Grieve of the Sun broke the news on Friday.

None of them have followed up with an update.

They’ll be hoping that they don’t end up looking like fools as Celtic’s chronic executive management team strike again.

Like in January when Grieve had the EXCLUSIVE news that Celtic were on the verge of signing Kyogo Furuhashi. He was going straight into the team to face Dundee United the next day.

Except that it didn’t happen. Someone inside Celtic had jumped the gun to get good news out.

It would be on another scale entirely if the 12 month contract for Martin O’Neill was to fall through.

But clearly something is holding up the ‘done deal’ sign.

O’Neill was pictured flying out of Glasgow Airport on Tuesday morning.

The club communications department has come out of hibernation. Stephen Welsh is leaving with friendlies against Shelbourne and Sporting Lisbon announced for July. There will be a training camp on the Algarve.

But still no managerial announcement. We are now 19 days on from the Scottish Cup Final. The distraction of the World Cup Finals starts tomorrow.

ONEILL FEARED THE SLOW LANE- NOW IT IS LOWBALLING HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT

Is the hold up on the O’Neill deal being caused by the contracts for his backroom team?

Stephen McManus, Gavin Strachan and Shaun Maloney were already employed by Celtic when O’Neill first came in last October.

Mark Fotheringham arrived. He has managed Huddersfield Town in the Championship, he has assisted managers like Felix Magath. He has a bit of clout in the game. Connections, he hasn’t been promoted from the u-12 side. He knows his worth.

This morning on Kerrydale Street there were references to low-balling. Very believable when it comes to Celtic. Verified by Fat Boab, a member with decent In The Know credentials.

That issue was discussed on ACSOM at lunchtime today.

It is very believable. Paul John Dykes, Yogi Junior and Patrick McGilp were in agreement. When it comes to incompetence Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay are world class.

At the end of October Fotheringham came in at a moments notice to help with training after Brendan Rodgers’ backroom staff had been wiped out except for Strachan Junior.

Maloney, apparently the Player Development Manager took charge of the whole operation fronted by O’Neill.

Having managed Hibs and Wigan and coached the Belgium international squad Maloney is well connected.

Fotheringham wouldn’t have been demanding the earth to get back involved, get on the training ground. Returning to Celtic over 20 years after leaving the club.

Now he is entitled to the going rate. Maybe more as a thank you for his part in last season’s recovery operation. Maloney more so.

THE CELTIC GOODWILL GESTURE BACKFIRES

Celtic have just written off £1m by releasing Stephen Welsh from his contract. There would be change out of £1m if that figure was used to pay Fotheringham and Maloney for one season.

Clearly the low-balling attitude that has made Celtic a red flag across European football is deep-grained inside the club.

From Holland to Scandinavia, even Plymouth Argyle went public last summer about how difficult Celtic are to negotiate with. Buying or selling.

If you manage the cut a deal with the Brains Trust that is Nicholson and McKay it has to be finally signed off by a Non Executive Director. If he has had a tough day on the fairways the deal could be rejected. Why bother?

Now it seems like O’Neill’s preferred backroom staff are facing the same issues.

CELTIC-THE CLUB WITH THE MAGIC MONEY TREE

A club with upwards of £70m in the bank, looking to sell £30m plus worth of players this summer appear to be haggling over £100,000 a year on the contracts of two coaches.

Men that will be applying themselves much more than 35 hours a week. It is a stretch to see Nicholson working more than 35 hours a month.

Maloney and Fotheringham won’t have a day off. They’ll be in contact every day. They’ll be watching football at home, using their contacts. Living and breathing the game every day.

Losing Fotheringham and Maloney isn’t the biggest worry.

O’Neill knows the background that brought him back to Celtic.

The undermining of Rodgers. The view that transfer windows are a period to make profits from rather than strengthening the team.

Of course managing Celtic has a massive pull on the 74-year-old Irishman. But not at any cost.

If the backing he was assured of by Dermot Desmond isn’t going to be delivered by Nicholson and McKay he isn’t obliged to bail them out yet again.

The attitude of the Celtic executives stink at every level.

They forced Rodgers out soon after the high of pushing Bayern Munich to the 178th minute in the Champions League.

If O’Neill slips away due to low-balling there will be an incredible backlash. They got a taste for that last week on the back of the Robbie Keane negotiations.

Nicholson would do well to take a few hours out of his holiday to rubber stamp O’Neill and his coaching team tonight.

Failure to do so would be unforgivable for the £17,000 a week employee known as Silent Mike.

Select Celtic365 as a “Preferred Source” on Google News for prompts to the independent news and opinions that you respect.