It seems incredible that it has been over 20 years since Martin O’Neill left his job as Celtic manager following his wife’s illness. In his five years here, he transformed the club and gave a new generation some of their greatest nights as Celtic fans. He changed history.
Before Martin, Celtic were second favourites, or worse, for over a decade. Since shortly after his arrival in 2000, we have been perpetual favourites, winning more than any other club in world football. His eloquence and enthusiasm inspired much of what you know and love about the club today.
Regrettably, I will not make the game tonight to see the man in person. Does he still jump at a goal? Football has changed a lot since the time his legend was respected across the Continent, but as the many who have heard him speak over recent years will confirm, his love of the club remains. He will be a sight to behold trackside in a Celtic jacket.
Falkirk started the month getting the point that was enough to see Russell Martin ejected out of Ibrox. This was followed by coming from behind to win at Motherwell, one of only two defeats the Lanarkshire side have experienced this season, before again coming from behind on Saturday to beat Dundee. They are a team who battle ‘til the end.
Celtic caught them cold on League Cup duty in August, winning 4-1. That game was easier than expected, indeed, it was easier than the same game a year earlier, when Falkirk were newly promoted to the Championship. I expect a tougher game tonight.
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Did you see the “Thank you JK” article?
Me neither.
MON the Hoops
The Group’s objective is to be a world-class football club through
our strategy and business model for growth and football success
focusing on three key areas:
On the pitch
(i) Core Business – football operations with a self-sustaining
financial model, relying upon: player trading, player recruitment,
creation of Champions League players, women’s football,
technical functions and development of training facilities.
Off the pitch
(ii) Development of the Celtic Brand – incorporating international
development, digital strategy, supporter engagement, Celtic Park
development and Celtic FC Foundation.
The next pitch
(iii) Improvement in the football environment in which Celtic
plays – representation within football governance and
administration at domestic and European leve
Oooh, I do see a sentence now.
Wish I was there tonight.
Back the bloody team for next few games, name silly business. Sing like we used to sing under MON. Full stadium, lungs bursting.
surely is anyone can claim unfair dismissal for being sacked it is 27 years service john kennedy ?
thoughts.
you cannot be sacked because you want to resign
Why is it when you come across a smashed wine bottle on the pavement it is always Buckfast and never Chateauneuf Du Pape Reserve?
Aipple – JK was a loyal Celtic servant though few of us know what he really did and whether he was particularly good at it. I recall during previous years that many people wanted him gone, believing he was a PL plant /snitch. He was widely criticised for “the sieve” – the belief being that if he was primarily employed as a defensive coach why did we lose so many soft goals and goals from set pieces.
Shaun spoke very highly of him yesterday and as previous managers have always kept him on he must have provided something of value to them.
It would be a genuine shock if he fell out with the board on Monday night but who knows what happened.
Yep Martin was a legend and we all have great memories of him.
What a pity Desmond and others don’t want us to keep them.
Rodgers, by the way, four titles out of four. More than O’Neill.
And hated on here. Hated.
The reinvestment claim is an interesting one. For sure, the board seem clueless at worst or lack transparency at best as to plans for the £100 million.
That said, the money is the clubs – it’s not as though it is being used to pay bumper dividends to shareholders – the preferred shareholder dividend has stayed fixed for 30 years and ordinary shares receive no dividend at all.
So technically, the money is available to be reinvested – just not sure the board know what the hell to do with it, and if they do, they aren’t telling us.
Can’t see that boycotting merchandise is going to have much effect on DD – and Christmas is just around the corner so not sure that fans will withhold their cash if their kids are desperate for that Iheanacho labelled third kit.
The board does definitely need a shake up – but getting rid of DD is a pipe dream unless he has had enough – and who knows what happens next?
MO’N’s tenure as manager will be short and rightly so, but I would love to see him kept on in some kind of capacity , DOF or advisory . An intelligent and ethical football man bridging the gap between the business and the football operations at the club
Repost
If Brendan was in charge next weekend against this poor Rangers side, how many here would be confident of a result. I know I wouldn’t be and I don’t think I am alone in that thought.
Not that I could have any bearing on what happens at Celtic Park but I feel that is the simple reason he is gone
Do we know that John Kennedy was sacked rather than resigned?
I would imagine that football management and coaching contracts are littered with clauses that allow clubs to get rid of personnel at short notice.
Sackings are commonplace and I cant recall any litigation.
John Kennedy’s name will never get mentioned on here, yet alone a thank you piece.
John’s leaving doesn’t suit the narrative.
Thank you for 27 years service to the Club, John. Best of luck.
Onwards to tonight. We simply have to win. We’re still in a title race.
I wonder what the tone might have been if another club in the city had appointed a 73-year-old manager with 5 months’ club management in the last 12 years. Would the words shambles, basket case or dysfunctional club have appeared?
Weebobbycollins
I take it you don’t live in Bearsden?….
Looking forward to seeing what Martin and Shaun can bring.
big jimmy@11.24am
“Every pound that Celtic makes gets reinvested in the Club”
But that is not what Dermot said though, it is your version of it Jimmy.
“We all share the same ambition:
to ensure Celtic’s continued success domestically and to achieve
further progress in Europe.
‘Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards these goals
and the continuous improvement of Celtic Football Club'”
“I call on Big Jimmy as a character witness m’Lord”
James Forrest
Bit pedantic to say Brendan won 4 out of 4 titles. He was here for 2 other partial seasons which you conveniently omitted. 2 seasons were he bailed out leaving us in the lurch.
Coincidentally 2 seasons were he was actually challenged as a manager. I’ll ask you the question I posed earlier.
How confident would you be of a Brendan led team beating Rangers at the weekend and please don’t fall back on the Big Jock quote
I agree that Martin, after his interim period, should be given at the very least an ambassadorial role at the club but possibly even as director of football. We have to modernise at some point and why not now?
And at the same time let’s finally get rid of Peter Lawwell. He has become toxic.
GTTF 12:16
Appointed as a stop gap… I think it might be seen as better than Murty in their case or JK in ours by most. Not sure what the other options were given the timescales and it IS temporary as all parties are keen to stress. Amazing how JK has went from a waste of a wage to the messiah for many.
On the game I hope we see something new. Whether that is 3 4 1 2 or just a change to not value possession without purpose I don’t know.
I’d also love to see a MON leap or two tonight but I will settle for 3 points and a smile on his coupon at FT.
Tim Malone Will Tell on 29th October 2025 12:18 pm…
“I take it you don’t live in Bearsden?….”
Yes, I get it. Burnside is a bit downtrodden these days.
I heard it’s Chateau Mouton Rothschild where B78 lives. :-)
Only kidding Burnley…
As much as I love MON, I don’t think those touting him as a Director of Football fully understand the role a DoF has.
You wouldn’t have him as coach and in many ways the DoF needs to be even more forward thinking and progressive than the head coach. Not for me.
get around to reading the annual report .
the chairman and ceo are going nowhere
ACSOM on right now and PJ starts with the following gem…
What would Celtic have done if Martin had said no?
Yes, that’s what they are discussing now.
Desperate.
Celtic Mac on 29th October 2025 12:21 pm
big jimmy@11.24am
“Every pound that Celtic makes gets reinvested in the Club”
But that is not what Dermot said though, it is your version of it Jimmy.
“We all share the same ambition:
to ensure Celtic’s continued success domestically and to achieve
further progress in Europe.
‘Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards these goals
……………….
What’s the DIFFERENCE with what Desmond CLAIMED about ” Reinvesting every Pound in the Club”, and what I Posted ?
It is CLEARLY Desmond who is being Economical with the Truth.
ALSO…
Ive just read the very short statement by Celtic regarding John Kennedy leaving the Club on here….They STILL dont do NOT CONFIRM whether JK Resigned or was he SACKED ?
Why NOT state the TRUTH about John Kennedy leaving etc ?
Seems to that some at Celtic…” CAN’T STAND THE TRUTH” !
Yeah – that’s true. I just wonder how it might have been described on here.
Hope Martin does great by the way. Absolute legend of the club.
Sorry to say it…. but The Huns will be smelling CELTIC BLOOD this Sunday, irrespective of their result v Hibs Tonight.
Geebee1978…
The great thing about Martin, and one of the reasons I have so much respect for him, is he wouldn’t take the DoF role if he didn’t believe he could do it…
Wee serious Shaun, during his playing days at Celtic, was always the first player to arrive on the training pitch…
and usually followed closely by Henrik.
Weebobbycollins on 29th October 2025 12:06 pm
Why is it when you come across a smashed wine bottle on the pavement it is always Buckfast and never Chateauneuf Du Pape Reserve?
Cos we drink the good stuff first 🍷
https://www.celticfc.com/club/celtic-plc-investor-relations/celtic-plc-annual-reports/
AIPPLE on 29TH OCTOBER 2025 12:01 PM
Did you see the “Thank you JK” article?
Me neither.
————
Nobody knows the reasons why John has left.
Celtic have treated John fantastically well over the years, particularly when his career was curtailed due to injury.
Daizen Maeda fit but Shaun Maloney still injured
By Celtic Football Club
Share
29 Oct 2025, 10:48 am
Celtic Football Club can confirm today that Assistant Manager John Kennedy, coaches Adam Sadler and Jack Lyons, and Head of Performance Glen Driscoll have left the Club with immediate effect.
We thank each of them for their contribution to Celtic and we wish them all well for the future.
We are pleased to welcome former Celtic Captain Stephen McManus and former Celtic player Mark Fotheringham into our first team coaching set-up, where they will join Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney on an interim basis, alongside coaches Stephen Woods, Gavin Strachan and Greg Wallace.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 29TH OCTOBER 2025 12:45 PM
Another reason why I don’t think he’ll do to and why he never took up a similar role anywhere else. It’s a totally different job to coaching/managing.
Michael Edwards at Liverpool is regarded as one if the best in the business and has no professional football background to speak of.
Martin was always one for experience. Ralston and Forrest may come in tonight to add a bit of composure.
Who would win in a fight between a millionaire and billionaire?
BSR – 😃