“It’s concerning. Is it a disaster? I don’t think so. We have to rethink and reset,” Martin O'Neill said as Celtic tried to calm a bad week down. Three defeats in a week have put his future in the spotlight, but Michael Nicholson has publicly backed the manager and the players.
Nicholson's public backing
Michael Nicholson said the club will come together and support Martin and the players, and that line matters because Celtic are choosing not to react in haste. Nicholson also said the losses in the last week have been painful for us all. That is the position for now: pressure is real, but the club are not moving to replace O'Neill.
The defeats came in a damaging sequence. Celtic lost twice to Rangers and at home to Ferencvarosi TC, a run that followed the Champions League play-off collapse against LASK. One report says the derby loss cut Celtic's lead to 2 points at the summit, which only adds to the sense that the margin for error has gone.
The squad issue behind the slump
The football problem is not just about one bad week. O'Neill said Celtic tried to replace Arne Engels after his move to West Ham on a £22million deal, but the replacement did not materialise. He added that January would have to be looked at, because the gap in the squad has been obvious.
The finances show Celtic did spend. The club's summer recruitment count was 10, with five signings arriving within 24 hours of the UEFA squad deadline. Their own figures also showed £31.7m spent, a post-tax loss of £4.8m and £66.4m in the bank by June 2026.
That is why the public debate is split between the manager and the build of the squad. O'Neill is still in the job, but the combination of the Rangers defeats, the Ferencvaros loss and the missed Engels replacement has made the restart he is asking for look unavoidable.
FAQ
Is Martin O'Neill facing the sack at Celtic right now?
The sources say O'Neill is under pressure after three defeats in a week, but Celtic are backing him for now. Michael Nicholson said the club will come together and support Martin and the players, while O'Neill described the situation as concerning and called for a rethink and reset.
Why are Celtic under so much pressure after a short run of games?
Celtic lost twice to Rangers and at home to Ferencvaros, a run that followed the Champions League play-off collapse against LASK. Michael Nicholson called the losses painful for everyone, and the club's public message is still support rather than an immediate change.
Did Celtic already know they needed more squad depth this season?
Yes. O'Neill said Celtic tried to replace Arne Engels after his £22million move to West Ham, but the replacement did not materialise. The club also spent £31.7m on summer arrivals and still ended the year with £66.4m in the bank.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
