Celtic fans are watching closely for any signal from Celtic Park about who will take charge of the club going forward.
But those same supporters know that only one man holds the true power to make that decision happen.
Dermot Desmond has served as the Hoops kingmaker for more than a quarter of a century, and he is once again making the critical call.
The Irish billionaire has overseen a remarkable period of dominance, with Celtic delivering 42 trophies since the year 2000.
Some supporters have grown increasingly uncomfortable with his level of power and his limited engagement with those who buy season tickets every year.
Desmond’s first major appointment came in June 2000, when his close friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson pointed him toward Martin O’Neill after a failed attempt to bring in Gus Hiddink.
O’Neill was one of the hottest properties in England following his incredible success at Leicester, but Desmond refused to take no for an answer.
The appointment proved inspired, delivering domestic success and European glory for the club during O’Neill’s tenure at Parkhead.
Gordon Strachan followed in June 2005 after Desmond encountered the former Southampton boss during the Cheltenham Festival, issuing a summons from his hospitality box.
The pair clicked almost immediately, and Strachan’s appointment that summer brought further league titles and Champions League success to Celtic.
Tony Mowbray arrived in June 2009 after former chief executive Peter Lawwell convinced Desmond to pay £2m in compensation, but the appointment turned to disaster and Mowbray departed by February.
Neil Lennon stepped in as caretaker following Mowbray’s exit, steadied the ship despite a Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Ross County, and was handed the role permanently.
Ronny Deila’s arrival in June 2014 came after Roy Keane got cold feet, with Fergal Harkin flagging up the Norwegian and helping broker the deal through City Football Group connections.
Celtic’s links with the CFG brought players including Patrick Roberts, Jason Denayer, and Jeremie Frimpong to Parkhead across several years.
Deila delivered two titles but a defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup proved such a gut punch for Desmond that it forced a complete change in tactics.
Brendan Rodgers arrived in June 2016 after Desmond sounded out David Moyes but ultimately landed the Northern Irishman, who had spent three years at Liverpool and came within a Steven Gerrard slip of the title.
Rodgers controversially accepted the Leicester City job with just two months remaining of the season, creating significant frustration within the club.
Neil Lennon answered the SOS in May 2019, with Peter Lawwell famously giving him the job in the showers at Hampden, carrying Desmond’s strong seal of approval.
Ange Postecoglou arrived in June 2021 after Eddie Howe turned down the role, with Mark Lawwell pitching the Australian following a Zoom call arranged by Desmond himself.
Postecoglou delivered significantly, but the manner of his manoeuvring before taking the Spurs job angered Desmond and the split did not end on the best of terms.
Rodgers returned in June 2024 but recruitment relationships never gelled, and by October he was gone, with Desmond famously and furiously responding in the wake of his exit.
Wilfried Nancy arrived in December 2025 after being flagged by Paul Tisdale, having delivered an MLS crown at Columbus Crew, but never recovered from being thrown in at the deep end.
Desmond is now deciding whether to keep Double-winning caretaker O’Neill in the role or move for his preferred candidate Keane, with the pair sharing links going back more than two decades.
It is decision time once again for the one man who always has the final say at Celtic Park.
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