Celtic Archives - Page 9 of 16

Nancy urges patience amid growing pressure

Wilfried Nancy has indicated that he will need to be given the appropriate time to flourish during recent press conference. Nancy has gotten off to an abysmal start as Celtic boss with only two wins to his name after seven matches, but the Frenchman insists that he has been judged far too quickly. And with another defeat to Motherwell on Tuesday evening, the pressure is building rapidly, and supporters will be quick to express their emotions if they fail to get anything from this weekend’s Old Firm derby. Today, during Nancy’s press conference, which lasted an astonishing 25 minutes, he was clear that the criticism has come thick and fast, but believes there is more to come from his side. He said: “Give me time and you’re going to see what I do. You can already see what I did before because I didn’t start yesterday. I’m going to be a liar if I say, everything is happy, everything is good. No, it’s not the case, but I knew that before. “That’s why I’m calm during all the questions you ask me. I’m not pleased to hear people don’t like me, but they have the right to say it because in terms of results, this is not what we want. Tomorrow is a big game. But the context is that I’ve only had 13 training sessions with my team. Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season. “It’s totally normal that you guys kill me, I’m fine with that because I know where I want to go. Judge me in a few weeks or months. If you want to judge me now, you can do it. I didn’t have the results we wanted; it’s a fact, I cannot deny that.” Nancy’s appointment was made with a long-term plan, but the early weeks of his reign have been far from good enough. He expresses that the lack of time on the training ground has had an impact on how he implements his ideas to the squad. But the visit of rivals Rangers, now feels a must win, and Nancy will know that if he can snatch anything from this fixture it would offer some sort of confidence to himself and the team, while on the other hand a defeat would only add to the pressure on his position.

January 2, 2026

Watt’s Rise, Derby Days, and Chasing the Jambos: SPFL Matchday 20 Breakdown

Scottish Premiership football returns for 2026 with an action-packed card on Saturday afternoon. Here are the key talking points to watch out for this weekend. Player to Watch: Elliot Watt Elliot Watt has evolved into a crucial cog in Jens Berthel Askou’s Fir Park machine. Having featured 25 times this term with four goal involvements, the midfielder has emerged as a standout in the Scottish Premiership. Following a loan spell at relegated St Johnstone last season, the former Burton Albion man has flourished for Motherwell, playing with a high level of consistency and maturity. With 2026 now underway, this could be a career-defining year for Watt. While Steve Clarke’s Scotland midfield seems settled, Watt’s current form suggests he could force his way into international contention. As Motherwell host St Mirren on Saturday, Watt will be important for the Steelmen, as they look to reclaim third place. Game of the Round: Celtic vs. Rangers The first domestic fixture of the year sees Scotland’s two powerhouses collide at Celtic Park, yet this episode carries a unique level of wonder, with both clubs in states of transition. Pressure is mounting on Wilfried Nancy. The Celtic boss has endured a chaotic start to his tenure, losing five of his opening seven matches. Despite claiming to see “good stuff” in their recent defeat to Motherwell, Nancy’s side missed the opportunity to move level with leaders Hearts. Conversely, Danny Rohl has steadied the ship at Ibrox. Since his arrival, he has reduced the gap to the summit from 13 points to six. He may have tasted defeat in his first derby during the League Cup semi-final, but a run of just one loss in eleven league matches has reignited a title charge that seemed impossible just months ago. Victory for either manager will be crucial for the remaining months of the season. Team in the Spotlight: Hearts The league leaders return to Tynecastle to host Livingston, desperate to banish the memory of their derby defeat at Easter Road last weekend. Having reached the midway point of the season at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, Derek McInnes will be keen for his side to maintain their challenge in 2026. They face a struggling Livingston side, but will be focused on extending their unbeaten home record. Victory could build further breathing space from the chasing pack, depending on the result at Celtic Park. The home side may be aided by their latest recruit, Spanish right-back Jordi Altena, who officially joined from the Dutch second division on January 1st.

January 2, 2026

Celtic to Make First Signing of Wilfried Nancy Era

Celtic have reportedly agreed a loan deal for Bournemouth right-back Julian Araujo. The Mexican international has made the trip to Glasgow from the South coast tonight as the clubs continue to negotiate a deal before Celtic’s derby clash against Rangers this Saturday. Araujo is said to be keen to register as much game time as possible to remain in contention of making Mexico’s World Cup squad as they host the tournament alongside the USA and Canada. Bournemouth have exceeded the limit of loans out to international clubs, meaning the Premier League side will have to recall someone before Araujo receives the green light for the green and white. It is unknown which loan will be sacrificed for Araujo’s switch to go through, yet Cherries boss Andoni Iraola is keen for the player to move having only played him once this season, in a cup tie defeat at home to Brentford where the 24-year-old was sent off in added time. Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy will be keen to reinforce his squad as quickly as possible after five defeats in his first seven games has seen supporter backing for him reach an all time low. The Frenchman has been aware of Araujo since he emerged as one of the top talents in the MLS when he came through at LA Galaxy, eventually earning a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in 2023 at the same time Nancy was at CF Montreal and Columbus Crew. Araujo, who made one cap for the U.S national side before switching allegiance, signed a 5-year deal with Bournemouth in 2024 for £10m, and made 12 Premier League appearances in his maiden season. Reports have also suggested that Manchester City will be terminating the loan of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey. The right sided centre half has played just once in his time at Celtic so far this season.

January 1, 2026

“When I Was In Columbus, I Wanted To Have Him” – Nancy Hails Celtic Hero

Wilfried Nancy revealed that he tried signing Benjamin Nygren for Columbus Crew this summer before the Swede left Nordsjaelland for Celtic. The attacking midfielder is Celtic’s top goalscorer in all competitions this season, adding a double to his tally this afternoon as he played a starring role in the Parkhead side’s 4-2 victory away to Livingston. And new manager Nancy is delighted to have Swedish international at his disposal. Nancy said: “When I was in Columbus, I wanted to have him. “So I know him really well. I know what he can do. I think that he has a big potential, he hasn’t reached yet his potential. “But I think in terms of a relation, connection, with players, this is a player of relation. He’s not a dribbler, but his ability is to make the runs for his teammate but also for the technique that he has. “So now he knows that he has to be stronger, he has to believe a little more in himself, but I like what I’ve seen so far, but I would challenge him.” Nygren scored his ninth and tenth goals of the season as Celtic came back from behind twice in a game which seen four goals scored in the opening ten minutes, and admitted he was made aware of the interest from his new manager after his arrival. “I think he’s a great manager” Nygren said post-match. “Myself and the whole team will keep on working hard to get better and better. “I heard of it [Columbus interest in summer]. I didn’t know it before but I heard of it when he came.” It is the second consecutive match Celtic have won under Nancy since his arrival after losing his first four, and the Frenchman was pleased with what he seen from his side today. “Good game. A difficult game to play regarding the context, regarding the pitch, regarding the opposition. I really liked the competitive spirit that we had. “We came back twice from behind, and after that we were able to score four goals, could have scored more goals obviously, but I really liked what we did first half. “Second half, I liked it also, but in different ways. Defensively we were strong, we didn’t concede, they attacked a little bit more. “But offensively I think that we could have done better with the ball, to be able to install in their half and to organise to attack. Sometimes I think that we rushed and what happened was a chaotic game.” In all six games managed by Nancy, the recognised striker has failed to score in all six. When asked if a frontman is on his January wishlist, Nancy was coy to delve into specific details about transfer strategy. “When we have a window, the window is an opportunity for each team to improve the team. “So we’ll see what we are going to do, if we are going to take players, what type of player we are going to take and so on. “But step by step we are going to get the answer.”

December 27, 2025

Livingston 2-4 Celtic: Deux in a row for Nancy as Celtic Tame Lions

Celtic cut the gap to three points on leaders Hearts after a 4-2 win over Livingston at the Home of the Set Fare Arena. Fans were treated to four goals inside the opening ten minutes, as both sides traded blows as the end-to-end action resembled something more like a basketball game rather than a football match. Cristian Montano put Livingston into the driving seat just two minutes in before Benjamin Nygren restored parity just five minutes later. Montano got his second of the game a minute after, but this was cancelled out by Celtic’s South Korean Hyun-Jun Yang straight away to complete a berserk ten minute period. Celtic stamped their authority on the contest with a stunner from Nygren, before Arne Engels converted a spot kick to give the Parkhead side some breathing room. It is Wilfried Nancy’s second win in a row as Celtic manager after losing his first four games, whilst David Martindale still searches for his second win of the season as the West Lothian side languish at the foot of the table. The fans were still making their way inside when Livingston opened the scoring inside the first two minutes. Kieran Tierney’s attempted pass across the park was intercepted by Cristian Montano, who drove forward menacingly and thundered the ball high into deputy goalkeeper Vilijami Sinisalo’s near post. Celtic responded five minutes later when Arne Engels’ delivery from a corner was met by Daizen Maeda, who knocked it down for Swede Benjamin Nygren to net his first of the game and 7th of the season. The Lions roared back less than two minutes later ti continue the frantic start to the game. Scott Pittman’s cross from the right flank fell to Montano again in acres of space inside the box, and the Colombian doubled his tally for the afternoon. Then it was Celtic’s turn for a swift reply. Maeda found space down the left and fired a ball across the floor which was failed to be cleared by Danny Wilson. A stramash ensued inside Jerome Prior’s six-yard box, with Hyun-Jun Yang getting the last touch to bring us to 2-2 only ten minutes into the contest. Celtic continued to threaten with chances coming close from Yang and Maeda, and they would get their breakthrough just on the half hour mark. Tierney found Nygren in space and Celtic’s top scorer for the season so far curled one home, clipping off the inside of the post to put the Hoops ahead for the first time this match and score his third goal in two games. And their lead would be doubled less than ten minutes later. Livingston defender Daniel Finlayson was penalised for handball and a penalty was awarded after referee Matthew MacDermid was advised for an on field review. Arne Engels stepped up, and the Belgian sent Prior in the Livi net the wrong way as he rolled the ball into the bottom right corner. Celtic appeared comfortable going into the interval with a two-goal lead, but their advantage was nearly halved with a flurry of chances in the dying minutes. Anthony Ralston got his head on a Lewis Smith cross to concede a corner, which led to deflected efforts for both Smith and Montano who was hunting a first half hat-trick, but both strikes went just over. There were cheers from the home crowd after they thought Auston Trusty had turned the ball into his own net, but the American international had only headed a Macaulay Tait cross behind for a corner. A charge led by Luke McCowan with around twenty-five minutes to play looked like the game was going to be put to bed. The visitors countered after defending a corner in a 4 vs 2. McCowan had options either side of him and went left to Yang, but the ball could have been better which gave Livingston time to regroup. And Celtic’s defensive fragility was continued to be exposed when Tait pounced on a slack pass and could not be caught as he drove forward. He lacked support however, as his pass across goal was easily cleared by Trusty. The result puts leaves Livingston with just one win all season, but it is only the fourth time in eleven defeats that they have lost by a margin of more than one goal. As for Celtic, they can level Hearts point tally on Tuesday if they are to beat Motherwell at Fir Park, with the Edinburgh side losing today’s derby at Hibs and not in action until the new year when they host today’s home side Livingston. LIVINGSTON: Prior 5, Finlayson 4, Wilson 5, McGowan 4, Montano 8 (Brenet 79’ 1), Tait 6 (Lawal 79’ 1), Pittman 6, Sylla 5, May 5 (Susoho 74’ 1), Smith 6, Yengi 5 (Bokila 46’ 4) (Muirhead 46’ 4) CELTIC: Sinisalo 5, Tierney 7, Trusty 7, Ralston 5, McCowan 7, Yang 6 (Donovan 71’ 2), Engels 6, McGregor 6, Nygren 8 (Hatate 71’ 2), Maeda 5, Kenny 5 (Bernardo 82’ 1)

December 27, 2025

Celtic 3-1 Aberdeen – An early Christmas gift for Nancy as he picks up his first win as Celtic boss

Aberdeen make the trip down to Glasgow to face Celtic in a Christmas Cracker as the Dons hope to make it five defeats in a row for Wilfried Nancy and Celtic. An early pacey run for Maeda with a cross into the box but just a bit ahead of Kenny which doesn’t allow Celtic to take an early lead. Engles came close himself, a volley from the edge of the box which fired over the bar. Aberdeen had a dangerous attack but Trusty stopping Lazetic striking after giving away the ball to Karlsson. Trusty to the rescue again as Keskinen with a strike this time from close range but a very crucial block by the USA international. Nygren again following a few nice short passes beforehand with Mitov saving well to prevent a Celtic lead. Huge chance for Kenny, a mistake by Mitov which landed at McGregor with Kenny receiving the ball but the attempt strolling wide of goal. Nygren fired Celtic ahead, it began by a Lobban mistake which Yang won back, slotted the ball to Maeda who fed it into Nygren who made no mistake and fired Celtic ahead. Keskinen came close, twisting and turning and unleashed an effort at the near post with Schmeichel tipping it out. Karlsson was close shortly after, a strike from distance which fired wide of target. A phenomenal stop by Mitov in goal, McCowan with a powerful strike just out the box being well saved by the Dons keeper. Dylan Lobban was shown red following a Mitov error, Maeda was through on goal by the Aberdeen youngster pulling back the Celtic star which was surely an obvious red. Nygren should’ve fired Celtic two ahead early second half, a strike from the left hand side of the box which smacked the inside of the post where Mitov comfortably collected. Ralston this time, an effort from outside the box well saved by the Aberdeen number one. Engles then quickly smacked the bar following a shot from inside the box. A low cross into the box after an hour by Kenny which fizzled across the box failing to find its way into the net to keep it at just the one goal. Celtic rattle the post once again, a diving header by Arne Engles where he smacks the ball against the post. Nygren showing his class again, an effort from the edge of the box which fires just wide of target. Celtic should be more ahead but remain just the one goal separating the sides. Aberdeen fired level unexpectedly, Kjartansson winning the ball back, slots it into Bilalovic who makes no mistake and brings the visitors back on level terms. Brilliant defensive work by Aberdeen as Celtic kept trying to get back ahead. Very nervy end to the game at Celtic Park. Youngster Donovan whipped a great ball in, failing to be met by Maeda and Shin but there was Tierney to fire the ball in to bring Celtic back in front. James Forrest wrapped up the win as a low cross by the captain which landed at Forrest who made no mistake and converted past Mitov to seal the win. Shin nearly made it four, a header from outside the box which hit the outside of the bar to keep the score at 3-1. A very big three points in the Nancy era at Celtic as the champions return to winning ways over Aberdeen. Celtic: Schmeichel (6), Trusty (8), Nygren (8), Yang (7), McCowan (7), Kenny (6), Engles (8), Maeda (7), McGregor (8), Ralston (7), Tierney (9). Substitutes: Forrest (7), Shin (6), Scales (6), Donovan (7). Aberdeen: Mitov (7), Lobban (5), Devlin (6), Knoester (6), Milne (5), Jensen (6), Aouchiche (6), Armstrong (7), Karlsson (6), Keskinen (6), Lazetic (6). Substitutes: Gyamfi (6), Bilalovic (8), Kjartansson (7), Shinnie (6), Nisbet (6).

December 21, 2025

“We’ve Got An Opportunity For Every Single One of Us to Leave It Out There” – Anthony Ralston

Celtic defender Anthony Ralston has said Celtic’s disastrous start to life under new manager Wilfried Nancy has ‘hurt’ the playing staff. Traditionally a right-back, Nancy’s change of system has seen Ralston adopt a position as a right sided centre-back of a three during Celtic’s worst run of form since 1978. The reigning champions take on Aberdeen today, and defeat would mean that they equal a record run of defeats since 1953. However, Ralston sees the fixture as a chance to turn things around. He said in a press conference: “It’s tough to take when you’re used to so much success and winning everything there is to win, to then go through a patch like this, there is no hiding that it’s difficult. “There’s no hiding that you feel it. That’s just complete honesty. We’re not robots, we’re human beings. I certainly care about it deeply and we all care about it as well. “We’ve got a squad of players in there that have been hurt by the recent turn of events in terms of results. There’s no question of that and that’s not a secret. “But at the same time, it’s the God’s honest truth, we are all together as a squad. “On Sunday, we’ve got another opportunity for every single one of us to leave it out there, both offensively and defensively, to win a game of football. “That’s what we need to start with. It’s a game at a time to then pick up and I’m sure in the end we’ll be successful.” These comments come in the wake of midfielder Luke McCowan admitting he ‘can’t face friends or family’ midweek following Celtic’s fourth consecutive loss after a 2-1 defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice, in a match which heard vocal chants for the manager’s sacking, alongside the Parkhead board. With murmurs of a fresh approach from the Hoops hierarchy towards former boss Ange Postecoglou after the Aussie refused to shut the door on a return, a defeat to Aberdeen today would likely prove to do irreversible damage to Nancy’s chances of getting all of the Celtic faithful behind him. Ralston says that himself and the rest of the players must adapt, and do so quickly, and insists the new boss has the backing of the squad amid rumours of a dressing room rift. “The manager’s really enthusiastic and he believes he can turn things around. There’s no reason why not. “From a personal point of view, I really believe and hope that we can as well. We’ll fight for that to be the case. “Usually you’ve got a pre-season and longer to work on these things and to really understand when there’s a change of system, to understand your position, to understand where you want certain players to be within the system, both offensively and defensively. “The gaffer’s had 11 days to work with us even on that. For both us and for the coaching staff, it’s obviously been difficult because you’ve not got that time. We’ve got a game every three days. “The way I look at that is that you’ve got no choice as a footballer, never mind a Celtic player, to adapt to these situations. “The boys are really trying their hardest and backing that. That’s what we need to try and continue to do. It’s important that we now start turning things around. “We just have to listen and try to implement that in the game as quickly as we can. That isn’t easy to do and that’s no secret. Again, like I say, when you’re at a club like Celtic, you have no choice. “You have to adapt and you have to be successful. That’s the demand on us as players. We need to take that responsibility as well as following the manager’s instructions.”

December 21, 2025

Dundee Utd 2-1 Celtic: Sapsford Magic Heaps Further Pressure on Nancy

Dundee United 2-1 Celtic Keresztes (58′) Sapsford (61′) Maeda (13′) A second-half capitulation at Tannadice saw Celtic fall to a spirited Dundee United comeback, leaving Wilfried Nancy winless after four games in charge. The visitors posed a constant threat in a frantic first half, clearly eager to banish their Cup final demons and secure a first win for Wilfried Nancy. The pressure began in the 4th minute when Luke McCowan released Daizen Maeda down the right. Yang Hyun-Jun stretched to meet the winger’s low cross at the back post, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target. Callum McGregor scooped a clever ball into Maeda’s path moments later, only for Johnny Kenny to fire his lobbed attempt over the bar. Celtic’s persistence paid off in the 12th minute. After capitalising on sloppy play by the hosts, Auston Trusty fed Kenny in front of the United defence. The striker quickly released the electric Maeda on the left side of the area, and after rounding Bert Esselink, his left-footed strike found the bottom corner of Dave Richards’ goal. It was Maeda’s fourth goal in six league matches, and it rewarded Celtic’s blistering start. Unlike their agonising defeat to St Mirren on Sunday, Nancy’s side played here with total conviction. Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United are now winless in seven league matches, and struggled to match Celtic’s relentless tenacity. The hosts offered little early on, with Amar Fatah’s wayward strike from the edge of the box their only half-chance in the opening 20 minutes. Celtic nearly doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Kenny raced clear of the United defence. However, his hesitation in front of the goal allowed Esselink to recover and clear the danger. United finally settled after the half-hour mark and nearly found an equaliser. A long throw-in fell to Esselink on the edge of the area, Max Watters redirected his scuffed shot, but the on-loan Barnsley striker’s touch trickled narrowly wide. The reprieve was short-lived, as Celtic sliced through the United defence again moments later. Maeda continued to haunt Goodwin’s side, latching onto a Hatate through ball and firing a low cross into the path of Kenny. It looked easier to score than miss, but the Irishman scuffed his effort wide. It was another major let-off for the hosts; Celtic should have been out of sight. In a complete reversal of the first half, it was Dundee United who flew out of the blocks. Zac Sapsford’s right-footed strike was blocked early on after Luca Stephenson capitalised on slack play from the Celtic midfield. Kasper Schmeichel was forced into action in the 50th minute, staying alert to deny Sapsford’s low drive after the ball broke to the Australian in a congested penalty area. However, the equaliser finally arrived seven minutes later. Ross Graham did well to keep Ferry’s cross alive at the back post, allowing Krisztian Keresztes to provide a clinical finish across Schmeichel and into the far corner. The roof blew off Tannadice on the hour mark thanks to a moment of individual brilliance. For the second time in minutes, Celtic failed to clear the danger at the back post, and Sapsford whipped a vicious right-footed strike beyond the outstretched grasp of Schmeichel. It was the Australians’ fifth goal of the season, and triggered a chorus of “sack the board” chants from the frustrated travelling support. The sheer intensity of Goodwin’s side appeared to have startled Celtic. The home side eventually retreated into a defensive shape, desperate to protect their slender advantage. Wilfried Nancy turned to his bench, handing a rare opportunity to Shin Yamada, who blazed wide of Dave Richards’ goal in the 75th minute. It was a golden chance for the Japanese striker, who should have carried the ball closer to Richards’ goal. Celtic’s best opportunity to level came in the 82nd minute. James Forrest flashed a teasing cross into the six-yard box for Maeda, but from only a yard out, the winger could only steer his header off the post. Nancy’s side continued to huff and puff, but were unable to cut into United’s lead. Benjamin Nygren’s free kick was off target in additional time, for their final opportunity of the match. The defeat leaves the Scottish Champions six points behind league leaders Hearts, but they still have one game in hand over their rivals. Dundee United’s first win in eight matches leaves them in 8th place, and they host Hibernian on Saturday afternoon. Dundee United: Richards 8 Keresztes 8 Graham 9 Esselink 8 Strain 7 Stephenson 7 Sibbald 7 Ferry 8 Sapsford 8 Watters 6 Fatah 7 Substitutes: Sevelj 7 Moller 7 Dolcek 7 Celtic: Schmeichel 5 Ralston 5 Trusty 5 Tierney 5 McCowan 6 McGregor 6 Hatate 6 Yang 4 Bernardo 5 Maeda 6 Kenny 3 Substitutes: Engels 4 Yamada 3 Forrest 4 Scales 4 Nygren 4

December 17, 2025

What matters at the Old Firm: Are modern managers trading determination for data, and steel in favour of statistics?

The days of running up Gullane Beach or receiving a hairdryer to the head are firmly in the past – some may argue justifiably. But have modern managers gone soft? Have they forgotten how to win? And what does this all mean for Scotland’s two biggest clubs. Rangers fans may laugh at the calamitous start to Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic tenure, but they are still bearing the bruises of a similarly bad managerial experiment in Russell Martin. Comparing these two managers isn’t entirely straightforward, one cut his teeth in the highly-competitive world of English Championship football and the other in the up-and-coming MLS in the United States, but there is one area both have displayed a serious lack of understanding that will rightly worry legions of loyal supporters. These managers share a troubling knowledge gap of what these two Glasgow giants are all about. Both have made equally as concerning and mystifying statements in their respective press conferences, and the pair are seemingly incapable of understanding what the key performance indicators are at the Old Firm: winning games, cup progression, and three points. It is a simple concept that both managers have, quite incredibly, managed to complicate. They’ve introduced a modern jargon that previously had no place in the changing rooms of Ibrox or Celtic Park, where grit and questionable language from captains have dominated. It is a jargon that would have never entered the vocabulary of Walter Smith, Sir Alex Ferguson or Martin O’Neill and it is completely unfathomable that these managerial legends would concern themselves with millennial concepts such as “XG” or “Patterns”, their driving motivation was to win the football game at any cost. Wilfried Nancy and Russell Martin have both made statements that have angered more than they’ve appeased, and shown aesthetically-pleasing performances and converting training routines into playing routines take priority over winning games. When did this become the defining factor in either of these two clubs’ seasons? You don’t need to be multilingual to understand the message from the paying-supporters of these clubs, or as Russell Martin once said, “have a foreign sounding name”. It is really quite simple, it doesn’t take an army of scientists, analysts, coaches, or dieticians. It is a fairly straightforward concept that has formed the basis of these two clubs for generations: win. Just win. Win however it takes. Win from the penalty spot in the 96th minute. Win from a VAR decision.

December 17, 2025

Wilfried Nancy has engineered himself into an ‘unsackable’ position, aided by the Celtic board

New Celtic Manager, Wilfried Nancy, has shoe-horned himself into a strong position ahead of Christmas and, unwillingly, the chiefs at Celtic have enabled this pantomime to play out. The festive period is a time of fairytale and dreams. It is a time when realities hide and festive cheer dominate. But In the mahogany-lined walls of the Celtic-Park boardroom, this Christmas dream has quickly turned into an unfathomable nightmare. The once Scottish-football powerhouse has found itself embroiled in the script of something you’d see at the King’s Theatre and is now a shadow of the tight ship Dermot Desmond used to run and Celtic used to be. As every manager has passed, they’ve descended further into civil war between the supremos in the leather seats and the paying punters waking up hoarse on the Monday morning after a match weekend–with a brief ceasefire initiated by the talismanic Martin O’Neill. This club is in a mess and you don’t really need to look far to find out why or what their current predicament is. To anyone who has followed football, it is blatantly obvious that Wilfried Nancy is out his depth, but why is this a surprise? It shouldn’t be a surprise. As recently as six years ago Wilfried Nancy was managing an under 16’s women’s team, and whilst this isn’t a reflection of his managerial capability, it is a reflection of his managerial experience and his qualification to take on one of the most intense jobs in European football management. Judging a manager on three games is neither fair nor reasonable. Judging a boards decision on three games is fair and reasonable–especially given they handed Nancy the keys to Lennoxtown. Sacking Wilfried Nancy three games in, despite the gravity of those games, isn’t conceivable at this moment. Martin O’Neill himself said that he could’ve lost those games in a recent interview with TalkSport, “Could’ve” being the key quote there, ‘unlikely’ being far more probable. If the Celtic board were to act now and kick Nancy out of Celtic Park, this wouldn’t be seen as a failure on Nancy, it would be seen as a failure by the Celtic board. At the top of this article we said Nancy had “Engineered himself into an unsackable position”, and this point remains. Nancy cannot be sacked because it would trigger resignations and terminations of the decision makers at Celtic. If they were to fire the manager they have just appointed after three games, it is unfathomable to see how their own positions are tenable. Have they made such an ill-informed decision that they are now backtracking three games in, and at such huge cost to the club? If this was a game of chess at Celtic Park, the Celtic board have made a serious error in their most recent move. Nancy is one move away from a checkmate, and now the board must look at sacrificing their queen to stay in the game. All that is left to see now is how long the supremos can keep moving around the board delaying the inevitable.

December 15, 2025