The interim boss lifted the lid on January's signing push and it shined a light on the Parkhead club's plans
09:00, 15 Jan 2026Updated 19:42, 15 Jan 2026
The more Brendan Rodgers spoke about Celtic transfers the more steam came out of Dermot Desmond’s ears.
The now former Hoops boss skilfully tried to negotiate that minefield as best he could but he still managed to upset the power on the Parkhead throne. And yet Martin O’Neill’s well-meaning words on Tuesday have proved to be more damning than anything his fellow Northern Irishman ever came out with.
The interim boss fairly innocently explained how Celtic are going about their business in this window. There were no coded messages or innuendo, there were no insinuations, nods or winks. O’Neill was just being as honest as he could be and he was determined not to launch anyone under a bus.
Yet it was shocking. Celtic fans would have read Record Sport's website and newspaper on Wednesday absolutely aghast at the state of their club’s recruitment process.
More like, what process?
Celtic have a 73-year-old interim manager who is on the phone 24/7 to agents in the desperate search for players who might be able to get the team over the line in the title race.
That’s not a strategy or a structure. It’s a shambles.
It also begs the question what Paul Tisdale had been doing for a year. It could be the now ex-head of football operations had a long list of targets and took them with him along with his jotters last week. But even so, there should have been three of four players already primed to walk in the door in early January.
The scouting should have been done, the players wined and dined, their maw’s bought flowers and dads taken for rounds of golf. It should have been a case of sign on the dotted line. It might be Tisdale did leave his list in his old top drawer but it was about as much use as a tin of tartan paint.
To hear O’Neill – and Shaun Maloney – say he had rejected a whack of names and was practically starting from scratch was jaw dropping. Either way, being told agents were punting players and then Celtic were going away to stuff videos in the second week in January was unbelievable.
Yes, Celts are in limbo right now with no permanent chairman, manager or director of football, but regardless it's no way for a club to operate in 2026. Meanwhile title rivals Rangers and Hearts are quietly and efficiently snapping players they have been tracking for months – and giving Celtic a total showing up.
Look, no one knows how these new arrivals at Ibrox and Tynecastle will get on. They could be world beaters or total duds.
But it’s not the point.
Rangers are on the verge of getting a guy they’ve been on to for over a year, with one of their other captures admitting there had been contact last summer. Hearts are already signing up players for NEXT season. It looks like the Jambos are plotting for the sales of some of their current stars to keep the talent line producing.
It might be hit or miss but at least they have a plan. At Parkhead there is only panic. Hearts have Tony Bloom’s super computer and scouting team scouring the Latvia Under 21 Third Division for gems. Rangers – knowing the Champions League could be within their grasp – are going for players who have performed at a high level and slapping dosh on the table.
Meanwhile Celtic are scrambling dealing with agents and pals to try to get some loan deals that can get them to the summer. It makes a mockery of Desmond’s line about nothing being wrong with the structure, that’s for sure and it's no way for an outfit that sees itself as a Champions League club to behave.
O’Neill might pull a few rabbits out of hats but his comments on Tuesday should have left Parkhead chiefs feeling embarrassed.
Yes, they can point to success in the market over the years and big money departures. But numerous changes to the heads of recruitment and a reliance on big name managers having solid links with agencies they trust has left the club exposed when they no longer have those crutches around.
The man in charge is playing catch up in the league and if anyone can pull off a miracle then it’s him.
But regardless of what happens on the pitch in the next few months, Celtic drastically need to fix things off it as they are in danger of being left trailing miles behind.