Roy Keane’s presence at Celtic Park for Sunday’s defeat by Rangers has been played down, with the former Celtic midfielder making clear he would never attend a game with the aim of replacing a manager. Keane, a friend of under-pressure Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, addressed the issue on the most recent Stick to Football podcast after many had linked his appearance to O’Neill’s uncertain future.
Keane also gave his reaction to the Rangers result, telling Celtic AM that it was the ‘ups and downs of football’. O’Neill, who is pondering his future as manager, remains under pressure. The Herald argued that, given Keane’s last management job was 15 years ago, the idea of him as next manager should be ‘too silly for words’, while also stating that it is time for O’Neill to exit and that nothing can be ruled out given how Celtic are run.
Further context on O’Neill’s position came from Graham Spiers on Press Box Patreon, who said the manager had defended Celtic’s summer recruitment in public but was privately despairing, later admitting the current squad is weaker compared to the end of last season.
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has criticised assistant Shaun Maloney, saying Maloney is active on the touchline when the side is winning but absent when they are losing.
Away from Celtic, Hibernian interim head coach John Potter says appointing the right successor to David Gray is more important than rushing, as the players head for a warm-weather training camp.
Aberdeen midfielder Findlay Marshall says confirmation he would not be sent on loan this season delivered a major boost to his bid to become a first-team regular.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday reckons Olwethu Makhanya will not be at Ibrox for long, describing the defender as a ‘Rolls-Royce’.
Hibs striker Owen Elding says his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad is a massive chance as the 20-year-old prepares to face Kosovo, Israel and Austria after a long wait to resolve red tape issues.