Ex Aston Villa and Sunderland boss had next Celtic boss fire as insider says gaffer 'could' have been Plan B
Martin O’Neill enjoyed a hugely productive spell as interim boss, but coach Mark Fotheringham admits he wishes it lasted longer
Mark Fotheringham has said that former Sunderland and Aston Villa coach Martin O’Neill would have enjoyed the challenge of adding to his Celtic trophy haul.
O’Neill won seven of his eight games in caretaker charge of the Hoops after stepping into the dugout to help his old club in a time of need after Brendan Rodgers’ bombshell decision to resign as manager. During his time with the club, the experienced 73-year-old coach helped cut the deficit between Celtic and leaders Hearts at the top of the table while also steering the holders into the final of Premier Sports Cup Final after a 3-1 victory over Rangers in the semi-final.
O’Neill, who won seven major honours in his first spell in charge as well as leading Celtic to a European final, generated a real feel-good factor amongst supporters during his short stint back in Glasgow, with the nostalgia of his return coming as a welcome distraction to discontent with the hierarchy after an underwhelming summer of recruitment behind the scenes. Some sections of the fanbase even wanted O’Neill to remain in the dugout longer, and though the former Nottingham Forest defender always insisted he was happy to make way for new head coach Wilfried Nancy, Fotheringham has a feeling that the boss would have loved to have stayed.
Mark Fotheringham reflects on his time working with Martin O’Neill at Celtic
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Fotheringham said after working in O’Neill’s backroom team: “Martin won’t tell you this, but I’m going to say it. In my mind, he was really up for the challenge of going and winning titles and cups for this club again. The more it was going on, the more enthusiastic he was getting. He could easily have carried on for the rest of the season. In fact, he could have done it way beyond it.
“He’d two young people and another two young coaches supporting, with a fantastic staff round him. There’s an incredible staff underneath the manager which supports whoever comes in.It’s maybe romantic, but I would have loved to see the gaffer build a team for the future that could go and compete in Europe again. When I was a young Celtic player he was taking scalps, beating Ajax, Juventus, getting the team to the UEFA Cup final.”
Mark Fotheringham believes Wilfried Nancy has all the tools to be a success
Fortheringham says Wilfried Nancy has inherited an excellent coaching team of ‘elite operators’ with great understanding of what it takes to keep Celtic at the top after four successive title triumphs. He added: “We knew the board had the plan to bring in a new manager. No problem. But I can’t deny, it would have been brilliant to see the gaffer at least stay for Hampden on Sunday and leave with a trophy success.
“Now, though, it’s about Wilfried — and here’s hoping Celtic triumph. The new manager has inherited elite-level operators who know what it takes to keep the team ticking along and know what it takes to win. I’m a big Celtic fan and I really hope Wilfried can be successful.”
Celtic face St Mirren in the Premier Sports final on Sunday at 3.30pm. It marks Celtic’s third appearance in the final in the last four seasons after victories over Rangers in 2022/23 and 2024/25. First though the Hoops have to play AS Roma in the Europa League.