Martin O'Neill won the league and Scottish Cup double in his second interim spell at Parkhead, capped by a dramatic final-day title snatch over Hearts. He then spent a week or two wondering whether he actually wanted to come back. In the end, the fear of watching from the outside nudged him into accepting the permanent role on a one-year contract. Now the hard part begins — and if the opening weeks of this summer are any indication, Celtic may be making life unnecessarily difficult for themselves.

O'Neill has been candid in his first interview since being confirmed as manager on 11 June, describing last season as a genuine "wake-up call" for a club that has grown accustomed to domestic dominance. Celtic eventually won their 14th Premiership title in 15 years, but only after winning their final seven matches to claw back a deficit to Hearts. The margin at the end was just two points. Nobody in the home end at Celtic Park needs reminding of how close it came.

"I felt every single time that we played matches, the teams were getting closer to Celtic than perhaps ever before, certainly in recent times," O'Neill told Celtic TV. "I think Rangers will get stronger, and Hearts won't go down without a fight — there's no question about that."

He is right on both counts. Hearts have already brought in seven new players as they rebuild under their new set-up. Rangers, now managed by Derek McInnes, have recruited Lawrence Shankland — the Tynecastle striker who tormented Celtic last season — along with fellow Scotland international Ross McCrorie from Bristol City. The Ibrox side are moving with intent.

Celtic, by contrast, are yet to sign anyone. They are one of only two Premiership clubs — Motherwell being the other — without a single incoming this summer. That is a striking position for a club of Celtic's resources and ambition, particularly given the scale of their squad turnover. Including loanees, departures could reach double figures before a ball is kicked in anger. The futures of Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren all remain unresolved, which adds further uncertainty to a squad already stretched thin.

The administrative timeline has hardly helped matters. O'Neill's appointment came almost three weeks after the season ended. His backroom staff — including Liam Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney, whose retention O'Neill described as "very important" — were only confirmed on the same day the players reported back for pre-season. Gavin Strachan, meanwhile, has departed to join West Brom, leaving the coaching setup a body short.

None of this means Celtic cannot get their business done. Big clubs have assembled squads in compressed windows before. But with a Champions League play-off first leg pencilled in for 18 or 19 August, the clock is ticking louder than anyone at Parkhead might like to acknowledge. O'Neill knows it better than most: last summer, under Brendan Rodgers, Celtic were knocked out of qualifying by Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, and the damage that inflicted on the entire season was enormous. Reaching the league phase is, in O'Neill's own word, "absolutely vital" — financially and psychologically.

There is no question O'Neill brings authority and experience to the dugout. The fact that he even took the job, despite admitting he lacked the energy in the immediate aftermath of the title win, speaks to a competitive drive that does not dim easily at 74. He talks about projecting himself forward to August, imagining the regret of watching someone else in the role, and deciding he could not sit with that feeling. That instinct served him well throughout last season.

But good intentions and warm words about squad cohesion will only stretch so far. Celtic need bodies. They need quality. And they need them soon, before the pre-season schedule has run its course and the qualifier is suddenly a fortnight away. The wake-up call O'Neill described has been heard. Whether the response will be fast enough is the question Parkhead supporters are asking themselves this July.

What comes next

  • Celtic's opening Premiership fixture is away to Dundee — a Monday night start that has already drawn frustration from supporters.
  • The Champions League play-off first leg falls on 18 or 19 August, making squad readiness a pressing concern through pre-season.
  • Hearts and Rangers have both moved quickly in the transfer market, setting a benchmark Celtic will need to match.

Frequently asked

Has Celtic signed anyone this summer?
As of the time of writing, Celtic have not made a single signing this summer, making them one of only two Scottish Premiership clubs yet to bring in any new players.
When is Celtic's Champions League qualifier?
Celtic's Champions League play-off first leg is scheduled for either 18 or 19 August, meaning the club needs their summer recruitment wrapped up well before that date.
Is Martin O'Neill Celtic's permanent manager?
Yes. O'Neill was confirmed as Celtic's permanent manager on 11 June, signing a one-year contract after leading the club to the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double in his second interim spell.