--- title: "Martin O’Neill Weighs Future After Double Rangers Defeat" canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/09/23/martin-oneill-celtic-future-rangers-defeats" type: "post" language: "en-GB" section: "Rangers News" published: "2026-09-23T20:15:00Z" modified: "2026-09-23T20:15:00Z" --- # Martin O’Neill Weighs Future After Double Rangers Defeat ## Rangers Victories Trigger Turf War Across Glasgow Martin O’Neill’s Celtic future is under genuine scrutiny after back-to-back derby defeats to Derek McInnes’s Rangers left Parkhead reeling. Three straight losses across all competitions, including two against Rangers, have turned a promising start into a crisis inside a matter of weeks. Rangers fans have watched this shift with plenty of satisfaction. The [convincing cup victory at Ibrox](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/14/rangers-expose-martin-o-neill-s-celtic-in-3-0-cup-victory) set the tone, and the [recent derby fallout at Parkhead](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/21/martin-oneill-rangers-defeat-celtic-crisis) has only deepened the sense that momentum across the city has swung firmly in Rangers’ direction. Add a defeat to Ferencvaros into the mix and O’Neill’s early promise, built on a domestic double last season, has given way to real pressure. The mood at Celtic Park has changed fast, and it shows no sign of easing before the international break arrives. ## O’Neill Considers Future Despite CEO Backing O’Neill has now admitted he will consider his future during the international break, a striking statement from a manager who guided Celtic to a double only months ago. It’s not the kind of admission that comes lightly, and it tells you how quickly things have unravelled. Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson has offered O’Neill his public backing, but that support hasn’t stopped the questions. Boardroom reassurance rarely settles a support that has just watched their side lose twice to Rangers in quick succession. Rangers’ [tactical setup against Celtic](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/13/confirmed-rangers-team-lineup-celtic-ibrox) showed how well McInnes had his side drilled for the occasion, and the [post-match reaction to the loss](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/17/martin-oneill-rangers-defeat-celtic-reaction) made clear just how rattled the away dressing room was afterwards. The meek response at Parkhead seven days later speaks volumes. Those two results have done more damage to O’Neill’s standing than any single bad afternoon could. Whatever Nicholson says publicly, the reality is that a manager only just enjoying a title-winning season is now openly weighing up whether to carry on, due to the overall situation. That’s a remarkable turnaround, and one Rangers fans are entitled to be satisfied about. ## McGeady Diagnoses Nerves as Keane Links Resurface According to Aiden McGeady, the problems at Celtic aren’t really about fixture congestion. Far from it. Speaking to STV, the former Celtic winger offered his own explanation for why the team has looked so short of confidence in recent weeks. > “It’s just games of football. Everybody’s done it, played Wednesday-Saturday, Thursday-Sunday. It’s no different to previous campaigns. > > “For me, it looks like nerves. I just think they’re nervous. It looks like players are playing well within themselves.” That’s a pointed assessment from someone who knows the club from the inside, and it lands differently than the usual talk of a busy schedule. McGeady is essentially saying this is a mental issue rather than a physical one, which is a harder problem for any manager to fix. McGeady also touched on the growing chatter around Robbie Keane, whose name has resurfaced in connection with the Celtic job. He explained why Keane keeps coming up whenever the manager’s position is discussed. > “I never thought he’d take the jump to management so quickly because he was Middlesbrough assistant for a while. And then when \[Jonathan\] Woodgate got sacked, he kind of stepped away from it. > > “But no, I never saw him become a manager. But look, he’s got a good track record so far and he’s got a short managerial career. > > “And yeah, he’s one of the names, he’s been linked with Preston, but he’s also been linked with Celtic as well, very heavily in the summer. > > “And then there’s a lot of talk just now as well, if Martin O’Neill goes, who’s going to be the next manager? And his name seems to keep resurfacing.” Nothing here suggests Keane has had any approach from Celtic, and McGeady is careful to frame it as speculation rather than fact. Still, the fact his name keeps surfacing tells you how uneasy things have become behind the scenes at Parkhead. You can read his full comments on the [pundit reaction to the Celtic situation](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/8-vip-pundits-weigh-martin-37693303), which cover the wider mood among former players watching this unfold.