Team FC Liverpool U15 gewinnt das 22.Matthias-Pape-Gedächtnisturnier 2025 in Magdeburg Team FC Liverpool U15 gewinnt das 22.Matthias-Pape-Gedächtnisturnier 2025 in Magdeburg - Team FC Liverpool U15 wins the 22nd Matthias Pape Memorial Tournament 2025 in Magdeburg LicenseRM 22867383 Copyright: Imago Images
Celtic supporters are growing eager for the club’s managerial situation to be formally resolved as a busy summer of squad rebuilding continues at Parkhead.
Martin O’Neill has agreed a one-year contract to become Celtic’s permanent manager following talks with Dermot Desmond after the club secured the Premiership and Scottish Cup double last term.
Former Celtic striker Tony Watt believes retaining Mark Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney within the coaching setup will be a priority for O’Neill as he prepares for the role.
Watt revealed he has heard “through the grapevine” that Fotheringham has made a strong impression behind the scenes at the club’s Lennoxtown training base.
Maloney stepped away from his post as Celtic Professional Player Pathway Manager during both of O’Neill’s interim spells last season to serve as his assistant manager.
Fotheringham, who has coaching experience in both Germany and England, was added to the setup by O’Neill during those interim periods.
Watt told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “I think the fact that he’s doing the year speaks a lot about his drive and motivation.”
He added: “Fotheringham, by all accounts — you hear a lot through the grapevine in football — is a very, very good coach, the boys love him.”
Watt also said: “So I think Martin O’Neill’s the right choice at the moment, I think the stability’s a good thing at the moment after what happened with Nancy.”
He made clear what he wants to see next, stating: “But now, what I would like to see is Martin O’Neill getting free reign on the signings. Go and sign players who will make Celtic better.”
Maloney has been heavily linked with taking on a new sporting director role at the club, potentially moving him into a boardroom position rather than a hands-on coaching capacity.
O’Neill ally Paul Dickov, a former Leicester, Blackburn and Manchester City striker, has also weighed in on the appointment, expressing confidence that the veteran manager secured assurances before accepting.
Dickov told Record Sport via Gamble Mind: “I’m delighted that he’s gotten the job. Going through these two spells last year, he showed what an influence he’s got.”
He continued: “Not just in the team, but on the whole club, the fans and the people within Celtic Park.”
Dickov pointed to the title race as evidence of work still to be done, saying: “Celtic getting pushed by Hearts all the way to the very end showed you that Celtic have got a lot of work to do.”
He was unequivocal about the conditions O’Neill would have required, stating: “Knowing Martin as I do, there’s no way whatsoever he would have accepted the job going forward without knowing he was going to get the backing to bring in his own players.”
Dickov added: “He knew how difficult it was last year; the squad needs strengthening drastically.”
He concluded firmly: “There’s a lot of quality in there as well, I don’t think without that backing and certain promises that Martin would have taken the job.”
The coming weeks are expected to bring clarity on both the coaching structure and the club’s transfer ambitions heading into the new season.
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