'Celtic bosses don't understand football' - Martin O'Neill dressing room reveal from expert

Celtic chief were left red-faced and exposed after the decision to appoint Wilfried Nancy failed spectacularly in December.

That is according to experienced former senior scout Bryan King, who exclusively told Football Insider that Martin O'Neill transformed the culture at Parkhead following his arrival.

The former Hoops boss had been out of management for over six years when he returned as a caretaker manager in October, following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.

Despite a strong brief tenure, the Northern Irishman was replaced by Nancy in December but returned just one month later after the Frenchman had lasted just eight games.

Upon O'Neill's return, Celtic surged towards the Scottish Premiership and won it, ultimately beating Hearts on the final day before they went on to win the FA Cup to complete the double.

The legendary manager was then expected to step aside for a new manager, but he has been persuaded to stay on and pursue more history.

Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin O’Neill as Football Manager on a one-year contract with a one-year option.#CelticFC

The Celtic board has been the target of significant protest in recent years, with several members stepping down in the last six months.

Non-executive chairman Peter Lawwell resigned in December, and Tom Allison retired in April.

The success of O'Neill's team quietened the noise, but vitriol remains amid Celtic's early transfer troubles so far this summer.

"What they needed there at the time was somebody to steady the ship, and who knew the club and could certainly sort this group of players out," King told Football Insider.

"Because the way Celtic were playing at the time, again, they brought in management, which to be fair to Celtic, and the same with Rangers, was not good enough.

"The people that were working as coaches or running the club at the time, for me, didn't understand Scottish football." He added: "Martin's a shrewd football man, and a good football man. Knows the game, knows the club, very successful there.

"He brought a discipline in to that football club and a belief for the players that convinced them they could win the championship and the cup, because at one stage, when he took over, there was nobody giving him a prayer to win the league or a cup competition."

It was reported this week that Celtic have finally conceded over deals that will see O'Neill's coaches, Mark Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney, stay at the club this summer.

What should be a fairly straightforward has taken far longer than any party would have liked, in a situation that has reminded fans of the Celtic board's incompetence.

Now expect deals for Mark Fotheringham & Shaun Maloney staying on to be officially confirmed ahead of pre season training starting tomorrow.

Things have dragged on for longer than all parties would have liked but it’s a case of better late than never. https://t.co/9fMX7m45vf

Confidence ahead of a key summer transfer window, in which the Hoops must revitalise their squad, is extremely low.

Despite all of the excitement surrounding O'Neill, that storm looks as if it will be hanging over the club for some time yet.