Respect for Martin O’Neill and accountability for Celtic’s problems can exist side by side.

Phil Bardsley says talk of replacing Martin O’Neill is “totally disrespectful”. I understand why he wants to defend a manager he clearly admires. But respect for O’Neill cannot become a convenient way to shut down every serious question about Celtic.

Supporters are not obliged to pretend that everything is fine because the manager won the title last season. Celtic have suffered four defeats in five matches, including two losses to Rangers and a 4-1 defeat to Benfica. The victory over Motherwell mattered, but it did not erase the problems that came before it.

Respect should not end the debate

Bardsley praised O’Neill’s work in last season’s title run-in, when Celtic recovered ground on Hearts and Rangers to win the league. That achievement deserves recognition. O’Neill earned respect from supporters long before this latest spell, and one difficult run does not wipe away his history at the club.

But that is not the same as saying every question about Celtic’s direction is disrespectful. There is a difference between dismissing O’Neill’s achievements and asking whether the club has a clear plan for the future. Those conversations are not insults. They are part of being a supporter who cares what happens next.

The manager himself is not the only person under scrutiny. Celtic’s performances, recruitment and decision-making have all prompted concern. Fans are entitled to ask whether the current setup gives O’Neill the tools and support required to meet the club’s ambitions.

Bardsley identifies the bigger problem

Bardsley himself acknowledged that Celtic have “a lot of issues” off the pitch, including ownership and a relationship with supporters that “looks like it’s broken down”. That is a striking admission. If those problems are serious enough to mention, they cannot be brushed aside simply because speculation about a successor makes him uncomfortable.

The focus should not be on naming a replacement for the sake of it. The focus should be on why a club with Celtic’s resources and expectations feels so unsettled. Who is responsible for fixing the relationship with supporters? What is the long-term football plan? And how much responsibility lies with the people running the club?

Those questions do not disappear when someone invokes respect.

Celtic supporters deserve answers

O’Neill can deserve respect and still be judged on results. Supporters can appreciate what he has done and still worry about the direction of the team. Both things can be true at once.

Bardsley is entitled to defend his former manager. Celtic fans are entitled to expect more than a plea to stop asking questions. If the ownership relationship is broken and the football operation is under pressure, those are the issues that demand answers.

Respect should be shown to O’Neill. Accountability should be demanded from everyone responsible for Celtic’s future.