Simon Jordan has delivered a blunt assessment of Martin O’Neill’s position at Celtic, insisting the veteran manager should have stepped aside at the end of last season.
The former Crystal Palace owner turned pundit believes O’Neill would have been better served moving upstairs into a director of football role.
From there, Jordan argues, the experienced Irishman could have mentored a younger coach with fresh energy to drive the club forward.
Jordan’s Clear View on Celtic’s Leadership Path
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan left little room for ambiguity about his preferred outcome.
He stated that O’Neill should have transitioned into a senior off-field position once the previous campaign concluded.
In Jordan’s eyes, that move would have allowed Celtic to inject new ideas on the touchline while retaining O’Neill’s institutional knowledge.
When pressed on whether O’Neill might still accept an upstairs role now or at the end of the current season, Jordan was equally forthright.
He does not believe the 74-year-old is interested in what he described as tokenism.
Instead, Jordan suggested O’Neill’s only realistic involvement would be helping with the recruitment of a successor.
Pressure Mounts After Three Straight Defeats
O’Neill currently finds himself under significant scrutiny after Celtic suffered three consecutive losses.
Two of those defeats came in Old Firm fixtures, results that always amplify the tension around Parkhead.
The sequence has raised questions about whether the squad still responds to the same messages that previously delivered success.
Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has already confirmed that O’Neill will not be sacked.
That public backing removes the immediate threat of dismissal but does not eliminate the wider debate about the manager’s future.
O’Neill himself has hinted he could step aside if he concludes the present problems are beyond his ability to solve.
Personnel Problems at the Heart of the Struggle
The most awkward reality for Celtic is that several of the current issues appear structural rather than temporary.
A shortage of quality in midfield has been especially evident during the recent poor run.
Without sufficient options to control games or change the tempo, the side has looked predictable against organised opponents.
That lack of depth forces difficult decisions on matchdays and limits the tactical flexibility available to the coaching staff.
Even supporters who remain loyal to O’Neill acknowledge that the midfield imbalance cannot be ignored indefinitely.
Creative solutions or a change in personnel may ultimately be required if the results do not improve.
Why Many Still Expect O’Neill to Stay
Despite the criticism, the most probable outcome remains that O’Neill continues in the role for now.
No formal decision has been taken to alter the managerial structure, and the club has offered public reassurance.
Yet doubts persist about whether the veteran coach still possesses the same capacity to influence matches once momentum turns against his team.
Celtic sit two points clear of Rangers in the Premiership table at the time of writing.
That slender advantage provides a degree of breathing space, but it also heightens the stakes of every remaining fixture.
The league title remains firmly within reach if the side can stabilise its form over the coming weeks.
Context That Softens the Criticism
It is easy, with the benefit of hindsight, to claim O’Neill should have walked away after last season.
The reality is that he had just guided Celtic to a league and cup double, extracting impressive performances from a squad that had previously struggled.
There was little obvious reason at the time to question his ability to repeat that success.
Celtic have still won all but one of their league matches this season, underlining that the overall campaign has not collapsed.
Serious concerns exist around recruitment and squad balance, particularly in the middle of the pitch, yet the points tally keeps them in a strong position.
A similar wobble would almost certainly have affected a younger manager given the same personnel limitations.
The Expectations O’Neill Inherited
When O’Neill accepted the role, there was a clear understanding that the squad would receive meaningful strengthening.
That reinforcement has not materialised to the extent many inside the club anticipated.
The resulting gaps have left the manager operating with fewer tools than he expected when he took the job.
Supporters have begun debating whether the current group of players is simply not good enough in key areas.
Others insist the coaching staff must find better ways to maximise the talent already at the club.
Both perspectives contain elements of truth and contribute to the restless atmosphere around Celtic Park.
Tactical Questions Facing the Current Setup
Recent performances have exposed a lack of midfield control that opponents have exploited.
Celtic have often struggled to dictate the tempo once the initial intensity fades, leaving the defence exposed to transitions.
The absence of a dominant holding player or a creative spark capable of unlocking compact defences has become increasingly obvious.
Old Firm defeats tend to magnify every shortcoming, and the two recent losses to Rangers have done exactly that.
Fans who previously trusted O’Neill’s experience are now asking whether the same methods can reverse the present trend.
The manager’s ability to adapt his approach in the short term may determine how long the current pressure continues.
Fan Sentiment and the Wider Narrative
Supporters remain divided between those who want continuity and those who believe a fresh voice is required.
Many acknowledge the double secured last season and the difficult circumstances O’Neill inherited.
At the same time, three successive defeats have eroded patience among sections of the fanbase.
Social media and phone-in shows have reflected the tension, with some calling for O’Neill to remain and stabilise the situation.
Others argue that lingering too long risks further damage to the title challenge.
The club’s public stance of support has not fully calmed those competing views.
What Comes Next for Celtic and O’Neill
Jordan’s suggestion of a director of football role and a mentoring arrangement was never taken up at the end of last season.
Whether such a pathway could still be explored remains uncertain, especially given O’Neill’s apparent reluctance toward token positions.
A more realistic contribution, according to the pundit, would involve assisting with the identification of a future successor.
For the moment, the focus stays on results and the immediate challenge of restoring confidence.
Celtic’s position at the top of the table, albeit by only two points, still offers a platform from which to recover.
The next sequence of fixtures will reveal whether O’Neill can arrest the slide or whether the questions about his long-term future intensify further.
The midfield shortage and the broader squad imbalance will not disappear overnight.
Creative adjustments or timely recruitment may yet prove decisive in determining how this season ultimately unfolds.
Until then, every match carries added weight for a manager who has already delivered silverware but now faces a sterner test of his remaining influence.
Jordan’s comments have added another layer to an already complex discussion at Parkhead.
They highlight the difficult balance between past achievement and present performance that every long-serving coach eventually confronts.
How Celtic navigate the coming weeks will shape both the title race and the future direction of the managerial setup.