O’Neill Takes the Blame – But I Don’t Buy It

“All this thing about the backroom staff, that is totally down to me delaying, seriously. It was my fault as much as anything else because there were roles going elsewhere.”

Those were Martin O’Neill’s own words as he accepted responsibility for the delay in appointing Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham to his coaching staff.

I respect Martin O’Neill immensely. If he says he believes it was his fault, then you have to admire his willingness to stand up and accept the criticism. He has always struck me as someone who puts Celtic before himself, and I have no doubt he genuinely believes he is doing what is best for the football club.

But I don’t buy it.

Not for one minute do I believe Martin O’Neill is solely responsible for what became another embarrassing episode behind the scenes at Celtic.

“It was me delaying to see whether I wanted to do it or not—that was one of the reasons.”

One of the reasons.

Not the reason.

That distinction matters.

Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham were only officially confirmed on the first day of pre-season training. For a club with Celtic’s resources and ambitions, that simply isn’t good enough. These appointments should have been completed weeks earlier, giving the coaching staff the maximum possible time to prepare for the new campaign.

Instead, supporters were left waiting yet again.

We’ve seen this pattern too many times.

Transfers drag on. Negotiations become drawn out. Deals that should be straightforward become unnecessarily complicated. Targets are missed, deadlines become a problem and Celtic repeatedly find themselves scrambling while other clubs complete their business.

That isn’t just bad luck.

It’s becoming a habit.

O’Neill also admitted:

“I didn’t honestly think I’d be here. The football club was looking at alternatives.”

That is an extraordinary admission. If the club were considering alternative managers, then of course that complicated matters. But once the decision was made for Martin O’Neill to stay, why did everything still take so long?

That question cannot simply be brushed aside.

To me, Martin O’Neill is doing what great leaders often do. He is stepping in front of the criticism to protect the people above him. It is an admirable quality and one that makes me respect him even more.

But admiration should never replace accountability.

The Celtic board have to answer for another delayed process. Whether it is appointing coaches or signing players, supporters deserve a football club that moves decisively instead of constantly appearing to negotiate from a position of hesitation.

I trust Martin O’Neill completely. I believe every word he says comes from a place of loyalty to Celtic. But I also believe he is shouldering blame that belongs elsewhere.

Sometimes the strongest leader is the one willing to carry the burden.

That doesn’t mean he should have to carry it alone.