So Martin O’Neill is to be handed the reigns at Celtic for at least another season, and the disastrous possibility that Robbie Keane could be installed as our new manager has finally evaporated.
To steal a quote from Brian Dempsey back in 1994 – The game is over, the rebels have won!
As you can probably tell, I’m absolutely delighted that Robbie Keane won’t be anywhere near Celtic Park in a working capacity anytime soon.
Up until last week I was never worried about the possibility of Keane getting the Celtic managers job.
I genuinely believed it was just lazy journalism, a few hacks writing an easy story linking us with an Irishman and former Celtic player.
Well history shows that being either of these two certainly gives you an extra chance of being Celtic manager. Only during these past few days have I really started to worry, as the media hyped up Keane’s imminent announcement, and the club went radio silent as per usual.
I have written a few times previously about my reasons for not wanting Keane at Celtic, with the main reason being his continued employment in Israel during a genocide, whilst working for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
This reason certainly split the Celtic fan base. It was heartwarming to see the amount of fellow Celtic fans who agreed with my stance on it.
I was actually surprised how many fans, including plenty who challenged me in the comment section of this very site, totally disagreed.
Like almost everything that happens at Celtic, opinions will always be split amongst the fans.
There are times I hear certain players getting criticised by fellow fans and I wonder are we watching the same game.
Some like myself think our current board aren’t fit for purpose yet others think they have done a great job over the years.
Some view Brendan Rodgers as a traitor while others feel he was let down by those higher up.
What I am trying to say is that football is always about opinions, and every set of football fans at every club will have disagreements. It’s completely normal.
In this case however Keane’s history in Israel, a state systematically trying to wipe the Palestinian people off the face of the earth, was a red line for me.
Regardless of whether he was a good candidate due to his abilities as a manager (I didn’t think he was), the fact he continued to work there as we all seen and heard the stories of utter depravity being inflicted upon innocent men, woman and children, was a step too far for me.
Having principles and a good moral compass is always more important than money in my eyes.
We will probably never know if the backlash from a large section of Celtic fans made any impact on the decision not to employ Keane.
Personally it doesn’t matter whether it did or didn’t, I’m just glad the correct decision was made.
It was heartwarming to see the amount of supporters clubs and groups who backed the Celtic fans for the liberation of Palestine statement, including my hometown club Glens of Antrim No1 CSC in Cushendall.
It’s not always easy to put your head above the parapet, especially when some of your fellow fans strongly disagree, so kudos for sticking up for what you all believe in.
There were also some very brave voices in the media and within journalism who weren’t afraid to state their opposition to Keane due to his Israel connection, with a personal shout out to Kelly Given in The National for a powerful article regarding the situation.
These figures were probably risking even more by speaking out, with ridiculous accusations of anti-Semitism directed at most of them which could affect their reputations and careers. Bravo for not being bullied into silence.
I mentioned earlier that fans will always disagree about almost everything.
One thing we can all agree on however is that Martin O’Neill won’t let us down. I will be writing a few articles giving my opinion on what the future looks like at Celtic after the announcement of the Kilrea native, but if our next manager was going to be either O’Neill or Keane, then it had to be Martin.
Next season the club, the players and the fans all needed stability and unity. With the ongoing situation with the board I genuinely believe Martin O’Neill may be the only man who could bring everyone together, even if it will be on a short term basis.
It gives the club a year to get their house in order.
Can you imagine the season that would have lay ahead if the club has chosen Keane?
It doesn’t bare thinking about. It would have made the Wilfried Nancy fiasco look oh so tame.
Conall McGinty
15 Comments
Yeah, take a bow.
Can’t wait to see if the same fans react to potential boss who has worked in Armenia, Nigeria or Somalia.
If you don’t understand my irony, countries who are inflicting genocide on Christians and Catholics..
Far left wing of Celtic fans are so uneducated.
What absolute child like nonsense! So sick of people like you pretending to be journalists and writing absolute drivel! I can tell you for a fact real Celtic fans who have an adult mentality understand that if you work in a Country you cannot be expected to control the lunacy of the nations political agenda. Should all future players and managers quit America? Honestly the idiocy of certain section of our support is disgusting. The same mob who chased Neil Lennon a few years back . My only concern with Robbie was would he be good enough, that and nothing else. So, as a club are we following The old Rangers idea of not signing anyone from a certain religon??? Madness and our spoilt dafties think we should upgrade that to people who are from or have worked in certain countries! Shameful and certainly they do not speak for real Celtic fans!
So many people around the world admire the Celtic fans for taking this important stance.
You mean the minority. You are endorsing the mindless reasons the old Rangers never signed Catholics. Not signing someone because they worked in a country is beyond idiocy! But our spoiled children like yourself are astoundingly hypocritical!
Well said
So do you think that got O’Neil the Job so yhose who got rid of abda got rid of Keane is this the same mob or do they only the good thing no doubt abda was thrown out of club do we want this for a club for all
So do you think that got O’Neil the Job so those who got rid of abda got rid of Keane is this the same mob or do they only the good thing no doubt abda was thrown out of club do we want this for a club for all
Why have comments if you won’t allow any valid responses? A but coward like! But, to be expected with the drivel you have written!
So we are now following the old Rangers model, we won’t sign a certain religion, or persons from certain countries or on an even more extreme cases person’s who worked in a country!!! Pathetic and not the Celtic way! Some of our fans really need a good shake also the author of this drivel of an article!
Absolute Morons the Green Brigade should be banned for Life fucking imbecile’s, Supporting Palestine murdering butchers these are the people they are supporting 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈Dick Heads
Strange that Palestinian players have no problem playing for Macaabi. Dont you think.
You are a fan of cancel culture eh.
There is a reason UEFA have a no polotics rule and it will jump up and bite you in the arse one day.
Just go to the games and enjoy it for what it is a game of football and stop weaponising it for FFS
Total arseholes who fly flags glorifying Hamas. They talk about our club our values but their values are those of the gutter. WTF does it matter if a manager managed in Israel? Obviously not real supporters but egoists who think they are better than the real supporters who are unbiased in their views.
So we get geriatric oneill for a year. Keane gone askow gone. Who the hell do you think will be available next seaon???
Well done for what? Embarrassing yourselves?
So I take it you won’t want any player, manager or sporting connections (such as are live matches being screened on their subscription and pay-per-view services) that has or had connections with Qatar and Sadia Arada and their sovereign state funds as both are connected with human rights abuses and persecution of minorities (women, homosexuals, exploitation and mistreatment of migrant workers and minority religious groups), Sadia Arabia’s war in the Yemen and Qatar’s involvement and funding of the Muslim Brotherhood which invaded and control a majority of Libya.
It will be interesting to see if you and same rabble that have labelled Robbie Keane with such disgusting slur’s I have seen the last few months level the same abuse at any Man City, Newcastle Utd, PSG players we might want to sign, just for an example or in fact any players that played in the World cup qualifiers and may be going to the World cup with Scotland that play In the Saudi or Qatar leagues, as remember these states have been involved in these atrocities for decades and those players and managers signed up during these atrocities unlike Robbie Keane who was managing Maccabi Tel Aviv before the October attacks and before the invasion of Gaza.
Just thought I’d making that point out yours and the rabbles hypocrisy.