By:
Mark Hendry
Martin O’Neill has urged Celtic’s fanbase and the boardroom to enter a truce amid a “difficult time”.
The Irishman took the reins at Parkhead on an interim basis for the second time this season.
It came after the club sacked Wilfried Nancy over a string of dismal results with Celts now third in the Scottish Premiership table.
The Frenchman lost six of only eight matches he bossed and O’Neill was asked to step in.
Results on the pitch have been poor but the relationship between punters and the hierarchy has also been awful.
The Celtic AGM was cut short by former chairman Peter Lawwell after a row with fans.
And that stemmed from the failure to qualify for the Champions League as well as the summer transfer window.
Martin O’Neill begs Celtic fans and board to unite
The malaise around the club was not helped by Nancy, but O’Neill’s arrival again has boosted morale.
So it is no surprise that the 73-year-old manager is hopeful that he can use his platform to convince supporters to return.
And he is determined to see everyone within the club unite to help benefit his squad in the title run-in.
“Do you know what I think? I wouldn’t mind having a meeting with a group of people just for people to air their grievances and things like that,” he said.
“I’m a football manager. It’s rather obnoxiously ridiculous of me to think that I can resolve a problem.
“What you can do is, I think, maybe have a bit of a truce if that’s the case.
“I’d love it if the stadium was absolutely just ready to go.
“Ready to support the players through thick and thin, because it will be a difficult time.
“It does wear you down a bit, you know.
“So it would be nice to have people together.
“We’d have to try and win the football matches, and that quells things for a little while.
“That’s all it does.
“But eventually, at some stage, whatever comes or goes, the board and supporters will have to come back into unison.”
Martin O’Neill’s first five Celtic fixtures as interim manager
O’Neill won seven of his eight matches earlier this season during his first interim stint.
But now it seems the competition is even more difficult.
Celts trail Hearts by six points at the top of the league while Rangers have also found their footing.
The Light Blues had been similarly dreadful under Russell Martin earlier this term.
But since Danny Rohl took over at Ibrox they have improved, coinciding with the Hoops’ dip.
And so, O’Neill’s challenge is now bigger and tougher.
His first game in charge comes against Dundee United on Saturday.
The club then face Falkirk, Auchinleck Talbot, Bologna and Hearts at Tynecastle.
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