Martin O'Neill says Celtic fans' questions were "fair" after facing supporters at Greenock meeting
The Celtic manager says he only learned of the meeting at the "11th hour" but wanted to hear first-hand the concerns of supporters amid growing discontent over the running of the club.
Greenock town centre. Martin O'Neill attended a gathering of Celtic supporters in the town. · Photograph: Thomas Nugent (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Martin O'Neill has opened up on his decision to face Celtic supporters at a recent meeting in Greenock, insisting the questions put to the club were fair and denying he had any ulterior motive for attending.
The Celtic manager went to the gathering to hear first-hand the concerns of fans, amid growing discontent among sections of the support over the way the club is being run.
"Experience what the supporters are feeling"
O'Neill revealed he only became aware of the meeting at the "11th hour", but was determined to go along and get a better understanding of how fans were feeling.
"I just wanted to go down to it and essentially experience what the supporters are feeling and see how we can do something about it," he said.
"They were fair, absolutely"
Asked about the main grievances raised, O'Neill suggested there was little unexpected about the issues put to those representing the club.
"I think it's straightforward," he said. "I think you would know what they would be."
"I think they were fair, absolutely. And I think that the board as a whole tried to answer them as honestly as they possibly could."
A rare step for a manager
Meetings between supporters and club representatives are usually left to directors and officials, so a manager choosing to attend in person is unusual. O'Neill insisted his only aim was to listen.
With Celtic facing a busy run of fixtures, he will hope the dialogue helps the focus return to results on the pitch.