Celtic face a major decision during the international break after Martin O’Neill suffered three straight defeats in a painful eight-day spell. The 74-year-old manager has admitted he will reflect on his future after the latest setback, a 1-0 home loss to Rangers that ended his side’s perfect Scottish Premiership start.

The sequence began with a 3-0 League Cup defeat at Ibrox, before Ferencvaros won 3-1 at Parkhead in the Europa League. Rangers then returned to Celtic Park and secured another victory through Ryan Naderi’s first-half goal. The result left the Hoops two points clear at the top of the league, yet the mood around the club has changed sharply.

O’Neill returned permanently in June after guiding Celtic to the Premiership and Scottish Cup double. The club gave him a one-year contract with an option for another year, while chief executive Michael Nicholson has publicly backed the veteran boss. Nicholson said the club would support O’Neill after what he called a painful week.

The debate has now moved beyond whether O’Neill should remain on the touchline. Speaking on talkSPORT, former Celtic player Mark McGhee suggested that the experienced manager could move into a director of football role and help mentor a younger coach. Simon Jordan rejected that proposal, arguing that such a position could become tokenism unless O’Neill received structural authority. Jordan instead suggested using O’Neill in recruitment to help identify his successor.

“I think at the end of last season, Martin should have went upstairs and should have become the director of football, and he could have mentored in a new, young manager with energy to take the club forward.”

The former Crystal Palace owner questioned whether a modern director of football position would suit O’Neill’s background, particularly given the recruitment and scouting demands often attached to such a job.

“I don’t think he is, I don’t think Martin is in that space. So, I think what you are talking about is tokenism. Martin doesn’t want tokenism.”

Jordan did, however, see another way O’Neill could remain involved if Celtic eventually have to identify a new manager.