Martin O’Neill contributing to plans aimed at strengthening Celtic

“If you’re attending the football matches week in, week out, both home and away, as a number of the board members do, I think they would see a reason for taking these people on.”

“Liam Scales is a very, very capable centre-back, who can also play left-back if Kieran’s not fit. So I thought that that would be relatively okay to do that.”

Liam Scales celebrates after Celtic won the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Celtic’s recruitment team have begun identifying targets across various markets as preparations continue for the next transfer window, with O’Neill also assessing potential options for his eventual successor.

Despite that groundwork being carried out, the board are expected to delay any major financial commitments on players until a permanent manager is installed.

Luke McCowan scores during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

O’Neill added: “Let’s say you’re looking abroad at a player and that he’s going to cost you a reasonable amount of money. I think that’s where you could have a difference, particularly if I’m outgoing.”

“If I thought somebody was decent, but it’s going to cost let’s say 5 million euros, I think that’s where the board would be quite right to say, ‘Well, wait a minute. Hold on, that’s a different issue. Let’s spend some money on someone that a new manager may not take in?’

“So that’s something that hasn’t got to that. We’re looking at a lot of players, but it’s not got to that stage. I’d like to minimise my influence in these things, because I have a minimal influence on events here.”

James Forrest during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

“But what I’m saying is that I don’t think that that’s big. If you were talking about players coming from abroad, you could put them into [a different category]. We will have to try and act relatively quickly on players.”

Conor Spence

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