Celtic have now confirmed that Martin O’Neill will remain in charge for another season, with the option of extending that stay by a further year. Given what he managed to achieve after returning to the dugout, that news will be welcomed by most.
What is less clear, however, is who will be standing alongside him when the new campaign gets underway.
When the club needed experience, stability and direction, Maloney and Fotheringham answered the call. Not once, but twice.
They helped O’Neill guide Celtic to the Premiership title before completing the job with Scottish Cup success a week later. At various points, both stepped into a difficult environment and helped steady things when silverware looked far from guaranteed.
Maloney, in particular, seemed to be carrying responsibilities well beyond his original remit. Journalist Mark Guidi believes the former Celtic midfielder is fully justified in seeking clarity over both his role and his future.
Speaking to Record Sport, Guidi said:
“Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have every right to protect themselves.
“Maloney has been doing about seven different jobs for the last six months and needs to get his role nailed down. He also needs to know what his future looks like at Parkhead.
“He was brought back as the pathways manager, which is the kind of job that could be for life.
“There’s no way he can deal with all of that again, or if he’s even asked then he’s entitled to ask for a few quid for doing the job of at least three people.”
Fotheringham’s situation is no less understandable.
The former Celtic youth player earned praise for the work he carried out behind the scenes and quickly became a trusted figure within O’Neill’s coaching setup. Guidi believes that commitment deserves greater security.
He said: “Fotheringham also deserves some kind of stability. The coach dropped everything to answer Maloney’s call twice in the space of weeks last season.
“If he’s going back in full time, there has to be some sort of plan for him. A one-year contract might suit O’Neill at 74 years old, but it certainly doesn’t for a young man who might have to up sticks.
“Nothing is long term in football and every coach and manager is well aware they could be out on their backsides after a few months.
“But it’s the security of longer term contracts that make the gamble worthwhile.
“To actually offer them less dosh than last term is a major slap in the face.”
It’s difficult to argue with much of that.
O’Neill leaned heavily on both men during the run-in and throughout Celtic’s successful push for domestic silverware. Trust is earned in football, and both Maloney and Fotheringham appear to have earned plenty of it from the manager.
Allowing that partnership to continue feels like the obvious move.
Celtic have secured O’Neill’s future for now. The next step should be ensuring the people who helped make his return such a success are still alongside him when the season begins.
I find this astonishing that our money men would even attempt this insulting offer to two guys who were pivotal to dragging that rag tag team over the line.The only thing I can think of is,they maybe panicked and threw money at them when they came in along with O Neill,and are now trying to row back on it.Its certainly baffling,that two guys who helped to make a company mode money get offered a pay cut.But then again it’s that lot in our boardroom.