Celtic Football Club today announced that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy, with immediate effect. After only 2 wins in 8 games including a League Cup Final defeat and last Saturdays 3-1 defeat to the rangers. The Celtic board finally woke up.

His coaching team of Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier will also leave the club.

Celtic also confirmed that Paul Tisdale has left his position as Head of Football Operations after two terrible transfer windows and his involvement in the appointment of Nancy.

A lot of Celtic fans thought that a 3-1 defeat at home to the rangers and a record of 2 wins out of 8 and only getting 6 points from a possible 18 would be enough for the Celtic board to admit to their failing and act now to try salvage something from the season and sack Wilfried Nancy and bring in a new manager to steady the ship.

It is an incredible fall from domestic dominance for Celtic who are still only 6 points behind league leaders Hearts, level on points with the rangers. While the chasing pack of Motherwell are 2 points  and Hibs are 4 points behind Celtic after the first game of the New Year. There is still time but someone has to have the balls to act on it now. Dermot Desmond was absent from one of our biggest games of the season yesterday which tells its own story of how big of a supporter he is of Celtic.

The atmosphere was lively yesterday before kick off but the Green Brigades absence was noticeable when things turned for the worst against Celtic in the second half and the only fans singing where those in away section. There was a minutes applause for the late John Robertson and you would wonder what the former Celtic assistant manager and 2 time European Cup winner would have thought of how far Celtic have fallen in such a short space of time since the departure of his great friend Martin O’Neill after picking up the November manager of the month award for his unbeaten record in Scotland and that great away win in Feyenoord.

 

Celtic dominated the first half and Yang scored a cracker to get everyone off their seats and excited but yet again Celtic failed to deliver in front of goal. This statistic has to lie at the door of the recruitment department at Celtic under Paul Tisdale who has failed to replace Kyogo and Idah upfront. He has brought in Shin but the fact that 3 Celtic managers have given him very little playing time tells another tale of the shambles our recruitment has become while the Celtic board stock pile the cheques in the bank while cashing their own very large ones.

At halftime over a Bovril there was plenty of positivity with the fans I spoke to. While we were chatting the rangers manager made one personal change and changed the formation and yet again Celtic were exposed at the back and humiliated by our biggest rivals. The anger in the main stand where I sit was there for all to see as Celtic fans turned their anger on the Celtic board members sitting in the directors box. Their seats might be comfortable but the atmosphere was anything but.

After the third goal Celtic fans started voting with their feet and the stadium was almost deserted of Green and White by full time. The Celtic players walked up the tunnel looking dejected and Luke McCowan’s comments after the game told its own story of where the players heads are. The rangers fans celebrated long after the final whistle and chants of keep the board only added to the insult of how we had just watched Celtic crumble again in the second half.

It a shambles lets call a spade a spade here. After the game there was an angry protest at the front of the stadium where Police lined up in front of the iconic Celtic statues. A sad sight and a sad state of affairs .

The Celtic Fan Collective released a statement shortly after the game. That was followed up by one from the the Association of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs.

Nancy now has a week to work with the Celtic players ahead of the game against Dundee United who have already beaten Celtic under his watch when after dominating the first half in Tannadice the team fell apart in the second half in what has become a recurring nightmare.

The Celtic team will likely post up images ahead of the game of all laughs and smiles at training between the manager and the players but their body language on match day tells a tale. And what is going on when a coach is sent out of the dugout to warm up subs during the game. I am sure a veteran player like James Forest knows how to warm himself up. He must be thinking what’s going on here!

Even as bad as things are Celtic should beat Dundee United who sit mid table in the table. A win would once again paper over the cracks at the club as they did when we beat Aberdeen and bottom place Livingston over the festive period.

The Celtic team will likely post up images ahead of the game of all laughs and smiles at training between the manager and the players but their body language on match day tells a tale. And what is going on when a coach is sent out of the dugout to warm up subs during the game. I am sure a veteran player like James Forest knows how to warm himself up. He must be thinking what’s going on here!

Even as bad as things are Celtic should beat Dundee United who sit mid table in the table. A win would once again paper over the cracks at the club as they did when we beat Aberdeen and bottom place Livingston over the festive period.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

 

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Wilfried Nancy has asked for time ahead of the Glasgow Derby v the rangers when he spoke to media ahead of the big game. Celtic also made the first signing of the year when Julián Araujo joined the club on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season. Celtic recruited James Bell-Walker to the Celtic scouting network from Chelsea.

The Nancy press conference will never be as entertaining as a Martin O’Neill one. Maybe it gets lost in translation but I came away today scratching my head after watching his latest conversation with the Main Stream Media. He has asked for time but he is running out of it and the Celtic support are losing patience with those charged with running the club.

The timing was not ideal for his appointment as he spoke about not having a summer to work with the players to implement his style of play so why did he stick to the script, ask Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for help and in the Summer implement his master plan with some new recruits.

Nobody gives a dam about Rod Stewarts opinion and I could not believe one of the journalists wasted everyone’s time by asking the Celtic manager about it.

Actions speak louder than words and the pressure is on the Celtic manager and his players to get a win  to kick off the year. The visitors will be coming full of confidence lets hope we can turn them over.

The game kicks off at 12:30pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports and coverage starts at 11:30. The game will also be streamed outside the UK and Ireland on Celtic TV.

Betting Odds

Celtic: 1/1

Draw: 3/1

Rangers: 11/4

Andrew Milne IS Editor of More than 90 Minutes & host of Celtic Soul Podcast 

Julián Araujo is the first signing of the year by Celtic. He joins the club on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season. The 24 year old defender arrives with 16 international caps for Mexico on his CV. He goes straight into squad for Saturday’s game v the rangers at Celtic Park.

Araujo, began his professional career in the MLS with LA Galaxy before joining Barcelona in February 2023.He spent the following season on loan at Spanish side, Las Palmas, before making the move to Bournemouth in August 2024.

“Tomorrow’s home derby will be the second in a row that the Green Brigade has been prevented from attending. Far from condemning the actions of Police Scotland for the unlawful six-hour kettling of fans on 16 March 2025, Celtic FC has instead colluded with them over recent months to target the Green Brigade culminating in an indefinite ban from all Celtic matches.

“Through this period, we have repeatedly sought dialogue with the Club. Their current position is that they are unable to engage with us while we do not accept allegations made against our group. To be clear, this relates to the incident at the Celtic v Falkirk match whereby Celtic FC made vexatious and clumsy allegations against our group. Accusations of serious and violent assaults were made purely and cynically to influence public opinion and support criminal charges against fans.

“Unfortunately, five people have since been charged – although none for serious or violent assaults. Celtic FC’s language has softened in relation to the incident. We believe all five will be vindicated in time but until then they, and their families by extension, must endure the criminal justice system – from dawn raids to multiple court appearances and everything this entails.

“Celtic FC’s demand that we admit to allegations which we strongly contest is not a sincere or serious position to take. It suggests that they do not want to achieve a solution nor explore any constructive steps to one. It is also another cynical attempt to prejudice live legal proceedings against fans. This is against a backdrop of spurious and sinister press stories of threats and intimidation to “blade wielding” fans which they tellingly let pass without comment.

“The treatment of the Green Brigade is one of many examples of the Celtic board’s contempt for fans. It is also another mark of incompetence, wilfully damaging the atmosphere and environment around the club by preventing a vocal element of the fan base from attending crucial matches.

“Until there are meaningful changes at senior level within Celtic FC, we have little confidence that the concerns of supporting a will ever be treated as a genuine priority.”

2026 had arrived and as the clock struck 12 to ring in the bells, Peter Lawwell officially left his post at Chairman of Celtic Football Club. The announcement was made on the evening of the December 17. Later that evening there was a toxic atmosphere at Tannadice when Dundee United beat Celtic 2-1.

The Celtic board were targeted by a section of the Celtic support and Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy cut a lonely figure as he left the field of play to boos and calls for his head after 4 defeats on the bounce.

Lawwell was not at the game in Dundee and has not been seen at a game since the League Cup final defeat to St. Mirren at Hampden.

He has been replaced by Brian Wilson as Celtic Chairman. The long time Celtic non-executive director now takes the seat vacated by Lawwell as Dermot Desmond shuffles the chairs around in the boardroom as he looks for a permanent replacement.

One name being mentioned on the rumour mill is Martin O’Neill. He could fill a number of jobs just now at the club from head of football recruitment to returning as Celtic manager.

Peter Lawwell joined Celtic as CEO in 2003 and stepped down after the Covid season when Celtic’s dream of 10IAR disappeared on a dodgy Celtic TV stream. A nightmare of a season. Neil Lennon was sacked in a trophyless season.

Since Lawwell arrived in 2003 at Celtic the club have downsized but were still the dominate force in the Scottish Football. The death of Rangers helped and their absence from the league saw the top tier of the Lisbon Lion stand closed. In Europe Celtic had a good season last year this season not so good. Since Gordon Strachan’s time we have not been able to compete on a regular basis in the Champions League.

Lawwell returned to the Celtic board room in January 2023 as Chairman. During his time at the club Celtic won 38 domestic trophies, Celtic moved to the Lennoxtown and redeveloped Barrowfield. The club has plenty of money banked from transfers.

He also leaves the club at a time when relationship between the Celtic board and the Celtic support is very bad. Some fans have been banned from attending games.

Celtic Fan media have been banned from attending pre and post match press conferences. Celtic could not even send an email out to explain why we have been banned. Celtic have had 3 managers in 2026 which paints its own picture.

The current player recruitment model is broken and our youth system is not much better. Celtic’s media department don’t even bother posting match reports on the B team.

A lifelong Celtic supporter Peter Lawwell has made plenty of money as a Celtic employee and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement and I am sure in time he will be back watching Celtic as a guest of the Celtic board.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

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If Celtic are to salvage anything from this season then Dermot Desmond and his CEO Michael Nicholson will have to come out and admit they have got the management appointment of Wilfried Nancy wrong and relieve him of his duties. But we know they won’t do that.

Last night’s performance was a disgrace. Inverness Caley under John Barnes and St. Mirren away under Tony Mowbray come to mind when I use the word disgrace.

They must also admit that Brendan Rodgers was correct to call them out on their recruitment policy and the quality of the players being brought into the club are just not good enough. We signed two Japanese players who have barely kicked a ball for 3 managers. That in itself tells you how bad the recruitment has been.

When the former Exeter manager Paul Tisdale was appointed as Head of Football Operations on the 16 Oct 2024 we were told

“In this new strategic role reporting to the Board, Paul will oversee the development and management of effective operations to support high-level football performance, including the identification and development of talent, in line with the club’s objective to develop Champions League players through our Academy and recruitment processes”

Which was the start of the downsizing of the club, by January 2025 we had sold Kyogo and never replaced him. During the Summer Idah and Kuhn were sold leaving the team short of attacking options and goals.

Celtic Chief Executive, Michael Nicholson said when Tisdale arrived:

“We are delighted to appoint Paul as Head of Football Operations, and we are sure he will bring a new dimension to our work. 

‘Talent identification and talent development, from our Academy through to our first team, is of fundamental importance to the club’s strategy, and Paul has tremendous expertise in these areas.’

“We are certain that he will bring great experience, energy and innovation to what we do, working alongside Brendan, our football manager, Chris McCart Head of Academy and our excellent wider football staff, to bring further development and success to the club.”  

So how is it working out. Brendan Rodgers walked, the team is a shambles and Martin O’Neill is on stand by and can’t commit to personal appearance bookings till mid January. Make of that what you will. I wouldn’t trust the current board to run a bath never mind a football club.

Martin O’Neill was able to get the best out of the current team. They loved his man management style. He was manager of the month for November. Under his watch we beat the rangers, were unbeaten in the league and we even got a rare European away win.

The players now look a shadow of themselves under Nancy. The fact that he only spent 15 minutes with Martin O’Neill at a handover meeting after O’Neill stayed an extra night in Glasgow to welcome him tells its own story about the Frenchman.

He thinks he knows best but we now know that he ripped up a winning script for his style of football that has seen Celtic concede 15 goals, lose a Cup Final, lose to Roma at Celtic Park in Europe and get a football lesson from Motherwell. His record going into the rangers game is played 7 won 2 lost 5. They and I use they as a collective Dermot Desmond , the Celtic board, Paul Tisdale and Wilfried Nancy have managed to do this in less than a month. You can see just how much damage they have done in less than a month to OUR club and I won’t even mention the damage Ross Desmond’s attack on the Celtic support at the AGM has done to an already strained relationship between the Celtic support and those paid handsomely to run Celtic.

When the new manager arrived Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson told us

“We have been aware of Wilfried and his quality of work for some time – he was our number one candidate when we began the process of appointing a new Manager and we are delighted that he has agreed to join the club.

“I know he is hugely excited about this opportunity to be part of Celtic’s future. We will give Wilfried every support to face the challenges ahead, with our aim as always being to deliver the success for the club which our supporters deserve, this season and beyond.

While outgoing Celtic chairman Peter Lawell told us

“We are really pleased to welcome Wilfried to Celtic. He is a Manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see. We will give Wilfried all our support as we look to once again bring success to our fans.

The Celtic support deserve better than those who are running our club into the ground. A win over the rangers on Saturday will only paper over the cracks but after last night if you’re a rangers fan you will be feeling a lot more confident than we are.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast