Celtic chief govt Michael Nicholson insists the membership stay absolutely supportive of Martin O’Neill regardless of the veteran supervisor being below mounting stress.
O’Neill acknowledged after the 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Parkhead final Sunday that he would take time to think about his future throughout the worldwide break and whether or not it is perhaps time to ‘wrap it up’.
The 74-year-old, who agreed a one-year deal again in the summertime to stay on the helm, has presided over three damaging defeats to Rangers and Ferencvaros over the previous week.
Though Celtic do nonetheless stay prime of the league by two factors, a big part of the assist had referred to as for a change to be made in latest days.
However, as Celtic launched their newest annual accounts exhibiting a post-tax lack of £4.8million in addition to money reserves of £66.4m, Nicholson was adamant the membership stay absolutely behind O’Neill.
‘We had been delighted to finish season 2025/26 on a excessive, successful the Scottish Premiership on the ultimate day of the season and including the Scottish Cup and Girls’s Scottish Cup within the weeks following,’ mentioned Nicholson.
Martin O’Neill says he is contemplating his future as Celtic boss after three defeats on the bounce
Celtic chief Michael Nicholson has supplied his assist to the under-fire supervisor
‘However final season was a difficult one for the membership, each on and off the pitch. Following a interval of stability, which has borne fruit when it comes to success and progress over latest years, we skilled turmoil which affected the membership’s efficiency.
‘We are going to deal with and study from the challenges confronted and errors made.
‘The ultimate weeks of the Premiership season; the ultimate match at Celtic Park; the Scottish Cup remaining; these will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence for Celtic followers, whose assist was a decisive issue.
‘I thank Callum McGregor and the entire gamers and workers for his or her arduous work and dedication all through the season that made the success attainable.
‘Because the Chairman has famous, the setting was unstable, following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation and our choice to maneuver on from Wilfried Nancy.
‘We owe a debt of gratitude to Martin O’Neill and his administration crew, who stepped up for Celtic, twice, and who guided the crew to success.
‘We had been subsequently delighted that Martin agreed to guide the Membership once more this season and we’ve got labored with Martin and his crew over the summer season switch window to put money into the squad.
‘Having began effectively within the Premiership this season, we skilled disappointment within the UEFA Champions League play-off.
‘Reaching the league part of the Champions League is an goal for us all, and we’re sorry to not have achieved it.
‘On prime of that, the losses within the final week have been painful for us all. We are going to now come collectively and assist Martin and the gamers, as we focus our efforts on attaining success domestically and within the Europa League.’
In his personal deal with to supporters, Celtic chairman Brian Wilson claimed that the disastrous appointment of Nancy final season may have labored had it not occurred mid-season.
Nancy lasted solely a month within the job after presiding over a shambolic run of kind and ultimately left as statistically the worst – and shortest-serving – supervisor within the membership’s historical past.
The Celtic hierarchy at full-time in Sunday’s 1-0 dwelling defeat to Outdated Agency rivals Rangers
‘The occasions of the previous 12 months have been dramatic, typically joyful and at different factors deeply irritating,’ mentioned Wilson.
‘The departure of Brendan Rodgers was an unanticipated occasion which initiated a interval of instability.
‘In different circumstances, the appointment of Wilfried Nancy might need labored however his arrival in mid-season and the modifications which adopted clearly didn’t.
‘Parting methods with Wilfried was vastly disappointing however decisive motion needed to be taken.
‘The return of the good Martin O’Neill, supported by his backroom crew in addition to a tremendous squad of gamers, then proved to be a triumphant success.
‘The early levels of the 2026/27 season have introduced blended fortunes.
‘Our league marketing campaign began strongly and the primary leg tie within the Champions League qualifier gave trigger for optimism.
‘The second leg defeat to LASK was, accordingly, all of the extra deeply disappointing for each supporter of the Membership.
‘This has been adopted by our exit from the League Cup. We now transfer into the Europa League in addition to pursuing our defence of the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup, with renewed dedication to success.’
By way of their annual accounts for the 12 months ending June 30, 2026, Celtic’s income decreased by 22.7 per cent to £111.0million (2025: £143.6million).
Working bills together with labour elevated by 4.3 per cent to £122.1million (2025: £117.1million).
Acquire on sale of participant registrations of £16.0million (2025: £31.5million). Acquisition of participant registrations of £15.6million (2025: £38.6million)
Loss earlier than tax of £6.6million (2025: revenue of £45.7million). Loss after tax of £4.8million (2025: revenue of £33.9million).12 months-end money of £66.4million (2025: £77.3million).
