Former Celtic Player Breaks Silence On Martin O’Neill’s Future: Should He Be Sacked?

Former Celtic Player Breaks Silence On Martin O’Neill’s Future: Should He Be Sacked? Celtic manager Martin O’Neill will use the international break to consider his future after a difficult spell that has brought three defeats. BBC Sport reports that former captain Paul Lambert would be “shocked and disappointed” if Celtic dismissed O’Neill, although he would not be surprised if the 74-year-old decided to leave himself. O’Neill’s side lost twice to Rangers within eight days, including Sunday’s 1-0 Premiership defeat at Celtic Park. Between those matches came a 3-1 Europa League loss to Ferencvaros. Celtic lead Rangers by two points, yet the performances have increased pressure on O’Neill. He has accepted the criticism and will speak with the board while considering whether he can turn the team around. Celtic had earlier suffered a Champions League qualifying collapse against LASK, surrendering a 4-0 lead before losing 5-4 on aggregate. Lambert defended his former manager. He called O’Neill Celtic’s best manager since Jock Stein and pointed to the previous season, when O’Neill twice steadied the club after Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy left. He credited O’Neill with helping Celtic recover and win the league and Scottish Cup double. Lambert then criticised players, particularly Cameron Carter-Vickers, after the defender discussed the team playing “too random” and needing a script. Lambert insists O’Neill is Celtic’s best manager since the great Jock Stein, but the 57-year-old added: “It wouldn’t surprise me if he left. I don’t think he needs it. “I’d be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him. “I think they give him the option, if that’s what’s on his mind, if he did want to walk away. “He’s got enough credit in the bank. It wasn’t that long ago people were shouting for a statue for him, so I don’t think you can go from one extreme to the other. “If he wants to go, then he goes himself.” O’Neill steadied the Celtic ship twice last term following the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy. “They were hanging on by a thread and he turned that around,” is how former Ipswich Town and Norwich City manager Lambert described the impact of his former boss. “There was only one person who could rescue Celtic last season and he did that. “I’d bet any money that he hasn’t changed anything from how he was then.” Lambert was critical of individual performances in the defeats by Rangers as well as the remarks of defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who spoke of playing “too random” and “getting a script and sticking to it”. “The players need to take responsibility,” he told BBC Radio Scotland. “I watched the game and dear oh dear… “That was cringeworthy, the stuff from Carter-Vickers. I thought ‘hang on, you’re not making a movie’. “Solve the problem yourselves. When something is not going right, you look to rectify it, you don’t look to a manager to say ‘do this or do that’. “I thought that was bang out of order, coming from someone who’s been a decent player for Celtic.” Should Celtic keep Martin O’Neill during the break? GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looks on during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Glasgow Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Celtic should give O’Neill the international break rather than sack him immediately. The three defeats demand scrutiny, but the league position gives the board room to avoid panic. Celtic lead Rangers by two points, despite the ugly run. Lambert’s point about player responsibility deserves attention. Carter-Vickers’ comments suggest frustration inside the squad, but players still have to solve problems during matches. A manager cannot make every decision once the ball starts moving. If Celtic dismiss O’Neill now, the club risk shifting attention away from players who have contributed to the recent results. Another reason supports a pause. O’Neill rescued Celtic twice last season when the club looked badly unsettled, then delivered a league and Scottish Cup double. That record gives him a case for time, although past success cannot excuse poor performances forever. The LASK collapse, Ferencvaros defeat and two Rangers losses create a problem. Still, the board can demand changes during the break: stronger player accountability, better defensive organisation and a more consistent attacking plan. O’Neill should get the chance to address those issues before Celtic make a decision that cannot easily be reversed.