O'Neill Shifts Focus to Team Amidst Celtic Strife

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has declared his intention to cease mediating the ongoing conflict between the club's ownership and its supporters, choosing instead to concentrate his efforts entirely on team performance. O'Neill, who returned to Parkhead under challenging circumstances, initially offered his diplomatic services to bridge the widening divide between fan factions and the club's custodians.

Despite his respected status at Celtic, O'Neill's attempts to act as an intermediary have not yielded a resolution, and he now feels the rift is too significant to mend. "I suppose the best person to ask is maybe Sir Alex Ferguson about the comings and goings way back where he was asked questions about the Glazers. So, if Sir Alex can't sort it out there is not much hope for the rest of us," O'Neill stated.

Recent events, including a turbulent transfer window and continued Champions League qualifying setbacks, have further diminished fan confidence. Protests, such as the incident where owner Dermot Desmond was targeted with tennis balls at St Andrews, have escalated tensions. In response, the Green Brigade, a prominent fan group, has announced they will boycott home matches in European competitions and the Scottish Cup.

O'Neill acknowledged the intensity of the past week, which included three consecutive poor performances prior to the international break. "You know what? I think it is [too wide a divide]," he said, referring to the club's internal conflict. "I have to [focus on the team]. Thinking you are in a position, which I am not, to quell something if you don't win matches... I am judged on football matches. That's why it was a pretty crappy week. A really, really bad week."

Initially, a poor run of results led O'Neill to briefly consider his future, but a short break with his family helped him reaffirm his commitment to the club. "I think you take a moment. Had there been no break then I probably wouldn't even have given it a thought. It was almost within 24 hours," he explained. "Well that doesn't look great, you know, it feels as if you've kind of given up. It was probably a moment of weakness [saying it], which I've got plenty of. But the overall thing was, I wanted to continue."

O'Neill expressed confidence in his ability to improve the team's fortunes despite the strong competition from rivals like Rangers, who have invested heavily in their squad. "Absolutely. I think they can be fixed," he stressed. "I think there's a long way to go in the season. I think there'll be lots of twists and turns again. Rangers, obviously, are physically very strong, and they've spent a lot of money in the transfer market. And they're reaping the rewards of that at this minute. And Hearts, you would never rule out, they are still very combative."

The manager anticipates a demanding schedule ahead, with upcoming matches against Benfica and Hearts. He believes the packed fixture list, especially with European competition, can be beneficial for the team. "So, no, I still think there's lots to play for. We've got a really hectic schedule ahead of us now at this minute. That can be good. And maybe that's the reason that I wanted other clubs to be involved in European football, so that they didn't have the advantage of a whole week without playing. But listen, we treat the games that they come."