Martin O'Neill, who has completed a second interim stint at Celtic, warned the club not to dawdle on appointing a permanent boss. His comments came as the Scottish champions sit behind Hearts in the title race, despite a solid defensive record. O'Neill’s urgency reflects growing impatience among supporters and the board.

Defender Liam Scales insisted Celtic’s belief in a title defence remains intact, even as Hearts maintain a narrow lead. Across the league, Hearts manager Derek McInnes urged his side to channel the sting of missing the championship into next season’s ambitions, while forward Claudio Braga echoed confidence that the club will remain a contender. These statements underscore the pressure on Celtic to act quickly.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen grapple with injury concerns after Mats Knoester’s setback against Dundee, and Malmö have shown interest in the club’s full‑back Alexander Jensen. The convergence of managerial uncertainty at Celtic and squad issues elsewhere highlights a volatile Scottish Premiership, where decisive moves this month could reshape the title chase.