Martin O’Neill Warns Celtic Board Squad Not Ready For Europe | Latest Celtic News
Martin O’Neill reportedly told the Celtic board that the current squad requires major reinforcement if the club is to compete at a higher level, according to minutes from the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs’ AGM.
3F0BPY3 Celtic manager Martin O?Neill during the pre-season friendly match at Tolka Park, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday July 7, 2026. Martin O’Neill reportedly told the Celtic board that the current squad requires major reinforcement if the club is to compete at a higher level, according to minutes fromthe Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs’ AGM. O’Neill attended the meeting in Cork alongside interim chairman Brian Wilson and chief executive Michael Nicholson, with representatives from supporters’ clubs raising concerns over Celtic’s transfer activity ahead of the European campaign. The issue was put directly to the club’s representatives by Brian Hogan CSC, whose question in the notes read: “Player Recruitment. Why are we so slow? Silence is deafening – We should be signing players as a matter of urgency. Our champions league fixture is literally round the corner and we have nobody. All other clubs are active, while we are silent with no signings. ”Nicholson responded by discussing the difficulties involved in dealing with agents and competing with clubs in the Premier League and Championship. The notes state that he “advised that the easy signings are the players that are out of contract, and these are being worked on immediately. ”14th September 2025; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Celtic CEO Michael NicholsonHowever, it was O’Neill’s reported intervention which provided the clearest assessment of the squad. According to the minutes, the Celtic manager “proceeded to confirm that he has put to the board that we are in major need of signings, as the current squad, despite their heroics last season, are not strong enough to compete. ”The notes also state that O’Neill acknowledged “the product on the pitch at the minute is not good enough to compete at a higher level without strengthening. ”Those comments place further pressure on Celtic’s hierarchy to add quality before the club’s Champions League fixtures begin. O’Neill also discussed the challenge of attracting experienced players to Glasgow in the current market. The minutes record that “targets he has identified already, were difficult to attract to Glasgow,” with the manager reportedly pointing to the financial power of English clubs. He referred to his first spell at Celtic, when he signed Chris Sutton and Neil Lennon, players he knew well and believed would thrive in Scottish football. 23rd May 2026; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Cup Final Football, Celtic versus Dunfermline; Celtic interim manager Martin ONeill and Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon embrace after the final whistleThe notes say O’Neill now believes Celtic may have a better chance of attracting younger players, describing them as players who “will take the gamble in Glasgow, purely to play in Europe. ”He added that younger targets “have better drive, ambition and are more suited to Celtic because they can be developed and aren’t swayed as much by wages. ”The AGM minutes are not an official Celtic transcript, but the message attributed to O’Neill is direct. The manager believes the squad needs significant work, and the board has been made aware of his position.