NafisaMartin O’Neill has made his feelings abundantly clear after Frank McAvennie sparked widespread criticism with his comments about Auston Trusty and the time the Celtic defender has taken away from football following the death of his father.
The controversy has attracted considerable attention among Celtic supporters, with many questioning how a former professional footballer could criticise another player for taking time to mourn the loss of a close family member.
McAvennie, who previously played for Celtic and West Ham, caused a stir after making the remarks on his podcast. The former striker criticised Trusty for spending an extended period away from the club and described the situation as “woke”.
His comments quickly generated backlash online, with supporters and other observers arguing that grieving should not be treated as something a footballer is expected to complete within a fixed period.
Trusty is dealing with a deeply personal loss, and the circumstances surrounding his absence have prompted questions about the way professional footballers are expected to balance their careers with family life.
Now, O’Neill has stepped in to make Celtic’s position absolutely clear.
Speaking to The Herald ahead of the club’s Europa League meeting with Beşiktaş, the Celtic manager strongly rejected McAvennie’s criticism and defended the American defender’s decision to take time away from the game.
“That’s really poor taste,” Martin said speaking to The Herald.
“I know I’ve said some things and ended up backtracking. But that’s a family bereavement.
“And that’s making someone’s mind up about how long they should be grieving and stuff like this here. That’s not on.
“Trusty asked me for some time [off]. Even if it’s a celebration [of his late father’s life], it doesn’t matter. The father’s been in poor health for quite some considerable time.
“And I know there was a stage where he thought that he wasn’t going to see it through. But I’m with Trusty the whole way there. Because I wouldn’t want anybody to tell me that I had to grieve over a brother or sister dying. And I’ve had that.
“He’s 28 years of age. And he’s taken it badly. Honestly. I’ve afforded him all the time he wants.
“At some stage, obviously, he’ll be coming back. But at the end of the day, I’ve given that time because I know that we might be talking about different eras or whatever the case may be. That’s nothing to do with it. This is a family thing. And that’s not right.
“So, Trusty has got the time and he’s got the backing of myself and he’s got the backing of the club.”
It was a particularly strong defence of Trusty, with O’Neill making it clear that the player’s wellbeing and family circumstances come before any pressure to return to training or competitive football.
The Celtic manager also revealed that Trusty had personally asked for time away and confirmed that he had been given as much time as he needed.
O’Neill’s comments carry additional weight because he acknowledged his own experiences with bereavement, explaining that he would not want anybody dictating how long he should grieve after losing a family member.
The 28-year-old defender therefore has the full backing of his manager and the club as he deals with the loss of his father.
Meanwhile, McAvennie has faced significant criticism since the original podcast comments emerged.
The former Celtic striker initially released a statement acknowledging that he should have been more careful with his words and understood how his remarks had come across. However, that first response did not include a direct apology to Trusty and his family.
On Wednesday evening, McAvennie issued a second statement after reflecting further on the controversy. This time, he directly addressed the defender and his family.
“Frank here. I’ve had more time to think about what I said about Auston on the podcast and I know my statement yesterday didn’t go far enough.
“I’m genuinely sorry for any hurt I’ve caused Auston or his family. That’s the last thing I’d ever want. I’m not that kind of person.
“I hold my hands up and I’ve learned my lesson. I genuinely wish Auston and his family all the very best.”
The apology came after O’Neill had already made his position clear during an earlier press conference on Wednesday. His comments were embargoed by the mainstream media until Wednesday evening, meaning they emerged after McAvennie’s second statement had been released.
For Celtic, the immediate priority will be allowing Trusty the space he needs before he eventually returns to the squad.
O’Neill has removed any uncertainty about where the club stands, making it clear that the defender has his support and that nobody should be putting a timetable on his grieving process.
The episode has also reignited a wider discussion about how footballers are treated when personal tragedy interrupts their professional careers.
Whatever the demands of elite football, losing a parent is not an ordinary absence from work. O’Neill has made that distinction unmistakably clear, and his message to Trusty is that he will be welcomed back whenever he is ready.
Nafisa
