Celtic chief executive backs Martin O'Neill after 'painful' week
Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson said on 22 September 2026 the club would back manager Martin O'Neill after what he described as a painful week that included a 1-0 derby defeat at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Nicholson made the remarks as the club published its latest financial figures. O'Neill, 74, has lost three consecutive matches and Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership. He had indicated he would use the international break to consider his future following two defeats to Rangers either side of a home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, and after the derby O'Neill said "it might be time to wrap it up". Nicholson also pointed to O'Neill's record across two spells, during which he has delivered nine trophies.
The three successive defeats comprised the two losses to Rangers and the Europa League reverse by Ferencvaros, leaving the manager's position a subject of public discussion. The sequence culminated in the 1-0 home loss in the Old Firm derby on Sunday at Celtic Park. O'Neill had signalled he would reflect over the international break on his future at the club.
The published accounts showed a drop of nearly £33m in revenue and a loss of £4.8m, which the club said was largely down to the failure to reach last year's Champions League. The club also reported it had missed out again in qualifying, having squandered a 4-0 aggregate lead in their play-off with LASK last month.
In a written statement accompanying the financial results Nicholson wrote: "Having started well in the Premiership this season, we experienced disappointment in the Champions League play-off." He added: "Reaching the league phase of the Champions League is an objective for us all, and we are sorry not to have achieved it."
Coverage also included the line: "Celtic can't sack manager O'Neill, says Lambert'."
Nicholson concluded: "On top of that, the losses in the last week have been painful for us all. We will now come together and support Martin and the players, as we focus our efforts on achieving success domestically and in the Europa League."
