Mark Guidi has argued with a Celtic fan over Martin O’Neill’s tactical contribution at Celtic.

A persistent rumour over recent months has labelled the Celtic boss a ‘figurehead’ for the team, claiming that a majority of the team’s tactical decisions have instead come from Shaun Maloney and others in the background.

Infamously, O’Neill was a master of delegation in his initial spell in charge, allowing his assistants to take training and sometimes not appearing at the training ground at all. Two decades on, some fans are struggling to believe that he has evolved into a modern tactician.

The official line from him and Maloney has been clear: O’Neill calls the shots. But with the team’s performances routinely being criticised this season, a caller on a radio phone claimed that O’Neill “can’t do anything tactically”.

Mark Guidi on Martin O’Neill: ‘It’s the club that needs modernising’

On the Go Radio Football Show, caller Gerry said that O’Neill offered only ‘encouragement’ rather than tactical instructions. Guidi said in response: “There’s a number of things I’d like to pick Gerry up on. First of all, I think you’re being absolutely disrespectful to Martin O’Neill to say he doesn’t do anything tactically, or doesn’t know anything.

“The guy that won a double last season and got the club out of a major hole. Unless you’re in there everyday at Lennoxtown, then how do you know what goes on?

“The other thing I would say is that they tried a modern day approach with Wilfried Nancy, and it lasted eight games. It was a disaster.

“Back to my original point: It’s the football club that needs modernising. If Martin O’Neill goes in the summer — or whenever he goes, but certainly the summer at the latest — then for me, it doesn’t matter who comes in. The club needs to modernise itself. It needs to accept that it’s got so much work to do.

“I know they’ve been successful, but they’re way behind it in so many aspects. It’s about the top of the tree modernising itself and allowing people to get the club on the front foot. They need to do that.

“But I think in general terms, what Gerry’s saying about Martin O’Neill… I know a few instances, in terms of coaching and motivation, that he’s involved in and has been involved in.

“So to make a sweeping statement like that, about a man who’s had fantastic success, not only at Celtic but at other football clubs and international level, is absolutely disrespectful.”

The caller then denied being respectful, before Guidi interjected: “Of course it is. Of course it is. For you to say he can’t do anything tactically!? That’s disrespectful, Gerry. Of course it is.