Martin O’Neill’s latest comments are becoming increasingly difficult to defend.
Asked about Celtic losing Kelechi Iheanacho, O’Neill responded:
“There are always two sides to every particular transfer, there is to every story. He’s gone. I thought that we had a deal with him at the time but seemingly that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.”
There may be two sides to every story, Martin, but Celtic supporters already know which side you appear determined to stand on: the board’s.
Once again, O’Neill has stepped forward to soften a failure that should be explained by those responsible for it. Celtic believed they had a deal. The player has gone elsewhere. That is not bad luck. It is another embarrassing collapse in a transfer operation that repeatedly fails to deliver.
Yet instead of demanding answers, O’Neill provides cover.
Can he not see what is happening? He is being left exposed by the very people he continues to defend. The board fails to strengthen the squad, the deals fall apart and O’Neill is then sent in front of the cameras to explain away the damage.
He is being stitched up and thrown to the wolves.
If Celtic struggle, it will not be Michael Nicholson facing the media after every defeat. Dermot Desmond will not be standing on the touchline taking the anger. The directors will remain safely removed from the consequences.
O’Neill will carry the blame.
That is why his continued defence of this board is so baffling. They failed to support him properly in January. They have allowed another deal to slip away. They are weakening his position before the season has even properly begun.
Dermot Desmond and the board owe O’Neill. He does not owe them silence, protection or endless excuses.
Supporters have heard enough about two sides to every story. They can see the pattern clearly.
The board creates the mess. Martin O’Neill explains it. Then Martin O’Neill pays the price.
Surely to god Martin sees that he is just the latest in a line of managers.saying the exact same crap: Michael is working hard behind the scenes, it’s the agents fault, it’s the players fault we can get deals done, I am hopeful we will get deals done… Blah blah blah… Same crap different year
The word is MON is up to his neck in debt and needs the money so kept quiet about demanding bodies through the door, though it may be just another rumour and someone putting two and two together and getting five, it would make sense where our once strong and assertive leader has ended up a patsy for everyone in the boardroom. It is not a nice look, our club is weak and useless whilst the major shareholder continues to take the wrecking ball to any advantage we had.