Celtic finally confirmed Martin O’Neill as manager on Thursday, ending days of waiting and speculation around the club’s next step.
But while the announcement answered one major question, it left another hanging.
There was no confirmation of Shaun Maloney or Mark Fotheringham as part of O’Neill’s backroom team.
That omission matters.
Both men played key roles during last season’s dramatic turnaround, helping O’Neill guide Celtic to a league and Scottish Cup double after a campaign that had, at various points, looked in danger of unravelling. The players responded, the structure settled, and Celtic finished the season with momentum when it mattered most.
So why have they not been announced?
The club statement was full of praise for O’Neill. Brian Wilson welcomed his “leadership, inspiration and success”. Michael Nicholson spoke about his experience being “vital”. Dermot Desmond said the club would support him fully across the close season.
O’Neill himself also made a point of thanking the “players and staff” for the focus and determination they showed at the end of the campaign.
Yet the two most discussed members of that staff were not named.
That silence only fuels the speculation around Maloney and Fotheringham’s futures. Reports have already suggested Celtic have yet to reach agreement with the pair, with further claims that reduced terms have been offered. If true, it is a strange look for a club publicly selling continuity while apparently failing to tie down two coaches who helped deliver success.
Simply put, if O’Neill is the man to lead Celtic forward, then the people he trusts around him matter.
This is not just about job titles. Celtic are heading into a huge summer. Players are expected to leave, signings are needed, and Champions League qualification will once again shape the entire tone of the season. The manager needs his staff in place quickly.
Fotheringham, in particular, has a strong coaching background and has reportedly attracted attention elsewhere. Maloney, meanwhile, already has a wider role at the club, but his influence around the first team has clearly been valued.
Celtic may well resolve this in the coming days. They might announce the full backroom structure and end the noise quickly.
But until they do, supporters are entitled to ask why it was not sorted before the manager announcement.
O’Neill is confirmed. The dugout, however, still does not feel complete.
If reports are to be believed it is outrageous that the guys that dragged that rag tag bunch over the line and put the club within touching distance of a 40 mill champs league windfall are offered reduced terms.This is Chris Mckays doing.He has been fixating on pay cuts for months now,(except for in the boardroom of course).Get this sorted and pay the guys the going rate.