MARTIN O'NEAL RETURNS TO CELTIC AGAIN POST WILFRIED NANCY SACKING AS IRISHMAN 'HONOURED'

The Irishman handed over the reins at Parkhead to Nancy just last month after his interim spell

Martin O'Neill(Image: SNS Group)

Legend Martin O'Neill has made another sensational return to Celtic – after being named manager until the end of the season following Wilfried Nancy's sacking.

On another dramatic day in Glasgow’s East End, Irishman O’Neill is back in charge of the Scottish champions – just 33 days after departing to allow Nancy to take over.

Celtic are enduring a chaotic campaign with Nancy's tenure brought to a dramatic and sudden end after just eight games in charge. He suffered nightmare defeats to table-topping Hearts, St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final and Rangers on Sunday as he managed just two wins in his tumultuous tenure.

When O'Neill left the club after his interim tenure back in the Celtic dugout in early December, the club were level on points with the Jambos while boasting a game in hand. Now, they trail Derek McInnes' men by six points and have allowed the Light Blues to move level on points with the Hoops in second.

But Parkhead icon O’Neill has now quickly been brought back for a third time just hours after the Frenchman was shown the door. The Irishman will be supported by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as assistants, as well as Stephen McManus, who will join existing coaches, Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Greg Wallace.

The returning gaffer said: “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players.

“I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game.

"He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.

“For me, I've been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us.

“We still have a lot to look forward to and a lot to try and achieve, and myself, Shaun and the coaching staff and, of course, the players will be giving everything to achieve all the success we can for the club.”

- Mark Pirie

CELTIC OWNER LAUNCHES BLISTERING ATTACK ON BRENDAN RODGERS IN EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT

Dermot Desmond has launched a scathing attack on Brendan Rodgers following his resignation.

Dermot Desmond has launched a blistering attack on Brendan Rodgers (Image: GETTY)

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has unleashed a blistering attack on Brendan Rodgers, slamming the departing boss for betraying his trust. Rodgers dramatically walked away from the Parkhead outfit on Monday following a disastrous start to the campaign. Martin O'Neill has returned to Parkhead in a caretaker capacity alongside Shaun Maloney.

Rodgers had consistently targeted the board regarding the club's summer dealings, with furious supporters intensifying pressure on the hierarchy and calling for their heads. Fans have been clamouring for explanations from majority shareholder Desmond, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell. Desmond has now spoken out by accusing Rodgers of 'misleading' supporters whilst labelling him 'toxic'.

The explosive statement declared: "When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success.

"Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust.

"In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club's full backing and long-term commitment to him.

"He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue.

"We met with Brendan regularly, including in December last year and at the start of the summer, with regular dialogue in between, to discuss and agree our collective strategy, priorities, and approach.

"Every player signed and every player sold during his tenure was done so with Brendan's full knowledge, approval, and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false.

"His later public statements about transfers and club operations came entirely out of the blue.

"At no point prior to those remarks had he raised any such concerns with me, Michael, or any member of the board or executive team.

"In reality, he was given final say over all football matters and was consistently backed in the recruitment process - including record investment in players he personally identified and approved.

"When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue.

"Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative.

"Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving. They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board.

"Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable.

"Every member of the Board and executive team is deeply passionate about Celtic and acts at all times with professionalism, integrity, and a shared desire for success.

"What has failed recently was not due to our structure or model, but to one individual's desire for self-preservation at the expense of others.

"Celtic's structure - where the manager oversees football, the Chief Executive manages operations, and the Board provides oversight - has served the club with great success for more than two decades.

"We all share the same ambition: to ensure Celtic's continued success domestically and to achieve further progress in Europe.

"Every pound generated by the club is reinvested towards those goals and the continuous improvement of Celtic Football Club.

"Celtic is greater than any one person. Our focus now is on restoring harmony, strengthening the squad, and continuing to build a club worthy of its values, traditions, and supporters."

+ Ryan McDonald & Archie Griggs

ARSENAL AGREE FIRST TRANSFER DEAL OF JANUARY WINDOW AS YOUNG DEFENDER JOINS WIGAN

League One side seal permanent move for 20-year-old who came through Hale End academy.

Arsenal have sold young defender Josh Robinson to Wigan in a permanent deal.

The 20-year-old has joined the League One side on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Robinson came through the Hale End academy and has been on the Arsenal bench for four or their six Champions League league phase games this season.

“I am very excited to start my journey here,” Robinson said about his move to Wigan. “It’s a very big football club, and I am looking forward to seeing what the season holds.

ROBINSON HAS BEEN ON THE ARSENAL BENCH FOR FOUR OR THEIR SIX CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LEAGUE PHASE GAMES THIS SEASON
ARSENAL FC VIA GETTY IMAGES

“They were interested in me and when you see a big club like Wigan, you cannot turn that opportunity down.

“I’ve been at Arsenal for a long time, and coming out of the academy into a first-team environment is a big step but I feel like I am ready to take it.

“It’s a big decision - but I thought why not take the leap of faith and hopefully everything will go well. I am very excited to get going.”

Wigan are 16th in League One and their manager Shaun Maloney said: “We have been monitoring Josh for quite some time, and I am thrilled that he is now a player for Wigan Athletic.

“Moving here was a significant decision for him, but Josh is both excited and motivated about our vision for the Club in the coming seasons.

“He is an extremely dedicated defender who excels in one-on-one situations and possesses strengths in attacking areas as well. I look forward to working with Josh to help him and the club achieve our goals.”

- JONATHAN GORRIE