Ex‑SPFL club chief believes Martin O’Neill taking an upstairs role at Celtic would ‘help please the fans’
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Credit: Imago Thu 14 May 2026 10:40, UK Martin O’Neill could move into a sporting director role at Celtic if he decides he does not want to stay on as manager.That is according to former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, who believes the Celtic board must consider keeping O’Neill at the club in some capacity.O’Neill is currently set to step aside as interim manager at the end of the season, which could conclude with a league and cup double for Celtic.The 74-year-old is a fan favourite at Celtic Park, and his return this season has helped ease the pressure on the board from the fans.Whilst O’Neill could intend on staying at Celtic as manager, the club’s search for a new boss already looks to have begun with numerous contenders linked with the role. 👔 Celtic Manager News 👔 Get the inside track on the Parkhead dugout with real-time updates on shortlisted candidates, live betting market shifts, and key boardroom decisions. VISIT THE MANAGER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Celtic board would find it ‘very hard’ to go against Martin O’NeillAberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes O’Neill would be able to remain as manager next season if he fancied it.Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that O’Neill would be useful to help Celtic appoint their next manager.Games Managed33Games Won26Games Drawn3Games Lost4Martin O’Neill’s managerial record at Celtic in all competitions this season.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Martin will be able to say, if he came out publicly and said, I’d like to stay on for next season.“It’d be very hard for the board to go against him.
So it’s really up to him. If he feels he’s got another year on him, then great, it could be good for Celtic.“But I do believe that somehow he should be part of the succession plan picking the next manager.
Either going upstairs for the rest of the season as the sporting director, a very serious position. “That could be something that could also help please the fans, so that’s another area that they’ve got to look at.”Celtic to face punishment after Motherwell scenesAs Celtic face a final day title decider against Hearts this Saturday, the decision to award the Hoops a penalty in the dying moments of their game against Motherwell has sparked controversy.Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have handled the ball in an aerial duel with Auston Trusty, although it looked like the forward had headed the ball away.Kelechi Iheanacho scored from the resulting spot kick to spark wild celebrations in the away end, but former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett told Football Insider that he believes the pitch invasion from the Celtic fans will be punished by the authorities.It is not the first time this season that Celtic fans have entered the field of play, with supporters running onto the pitch at Ibrox against Rangers in the Scottish Cup in March following a penalty shoot-out victory over their Glasgow rivals.