MARTIN O’NEILL BLASTS CELTIC DUO AND DEMANDS JANUARY EXIT AFTER RANGERS DISASTER
Press Conference Report
Martin O’Neill has issued an explosive verdict just days into his return as Celtic manager, insisting two senior stars must be dismissed immediately following what he described as a “damaging and unacceptable” performance against Rangers.
Reappointed martin O’Neill after Celtic’s Old Firm defeat under Wilfried Nancy, O’Neill confirmed he watched the match in full before agreeing to step back into the dugout. According to the 72-year-old, the display he witnessed convinced him the club could no longer delay making ruthless decisions.
“We are already in January, so there are no excuses,” O’Neill said during a tense press conference at Lennoxtown. “I watched that game very carefully, and I was alarmed by what I saw from two very experienced players. This is the biggest fixture in Scottish football, and their level was nowhere near acceptable.”
Celtic moved swiftly to part company with Nancy following the Rangers loss, with the board turning to O’Neill in a bid to restore authority and stability. The Irishman made it clear that his return is not symbolic, but corrective.
“I didn’t come back to be sentimental,” he said. “I came back to fix problems. And some of those problems are individuals who are no longer delivering at the standard this club demands.”
O’Neill refused to name the players directly but confirmed they are long-serving figures who were expected to lead the team at Ibrox.
“These are players with medals, experience, and big reputations,” he continued. “But football is not played on memories. It’s played in the moment, and in that moment, they let the club down.”
The Celtic boss was particularly critical of what he described as a lack of courage and authority in key phases of the match.
“In an Old Firm game, you have to stand up,” O’Neill said. “You have to take responsibility when things go against you. Instead, I saw players hiding, avoiding the ball, and losing basic battles. That’s not tactics — that’s mentality.”
Asked whether dismissal was too strong a term, O’Neill doubled down.
“When I say dismissed, I mean they cannot be part of this team moving forward,” he explained. “Whether that’s through moving them on, releasing them, or removing them from the squad, decisions will be made. January is here. Action is required now.”
O’Neill also addressed concerns about disruption mid-season but insisted the greater risk would be standing still.
“Keeping players because of loyalty is how clubs fall behind,” he said. “Rangers were sharper, stronger, and more aggressive. That should hurt everyone associated with Celtic. If it doesn’t, then they shouldn’t be here.”
The former Celtic title-winner stressed that Wilfried Nancy’s departure was not solely down to the defeat, but admitted the Rangers match accelerated the decision.
“This wasn’t about one manager,” O’Neill said. “But performances like that force decisions. The board acted, and now we move forward.”
Reaction among supporters has been fierce, with many backing O’Neill’s hard-line stance. Others remain uncomfortable with the treatment of club legends, but the manager insists the badge must come first.
“No player is bigger than Celtic,” he concluded. “Legends are made by knowing when to step aside. My responsibility is to this club, to the supporters, and to restoring standards. If tough decisions upset people, so be it.”
With the January window already open, O’Neill’s message is unmistakable: the rebuild has begun and reputations will offer no protection.
