Celtic have reportedly discussed the future of Wilfried Nancy and one of their potential managerial candidates is now ready to complete a move to Parkhead.
Nancy insists Celtic "really close" to turnaround
In the build-up to the Old Firm derby, Nancy’s seven-minute rant in defence of his job was as passionate as it could get and it looked justified when Celtic came out swinging against Rangers.
The Bhoys entered the break with a 1-0 lead which could have quite easily been tripled after an excellent first period. But there lies Celtic’s problem. They were not ruthless enough and were not strong enough mentally to cope with Rangers’ immediate equaliser after the break.
One Youssef Chermiti goal quickly became two and the Hoops collapsed in the most shocking fashion, sparking unsavory scenes from onwatching fans who demanded “sack the board” before Rangers sealed a 3-1 victory.
It’s Nancy’s worst defeat yet, and there’s been a few to choose from, but once again he came out in defence of his tenure – telling reporters: “It’s the results. Results. So this is the reality for the moment.
“But when I say this is the reality, it doesn’t mean that I am a defeatist guy. No. What I mean is we are really close, really, really close, to turn things around. And again, I repeat myself, but I can understand this situation.
Celtic 1-3 Rangers: Chris Sutton slams star who "had a shocker" in Old Firm derby
It was a day to forget for the Hoops.
ByTom Cunningham
“I think that they (fans) were behind us the first half, they pushed us in a good way. And after that… I can understand why they’re disappointed regarding the fact that we had many possibilities to win the game.”
The big question is now whether Nancy survives such a defeat, especially as reports arrive about his potential replacement.
O'Neill now "ready" for Celtic return
Life was good under Martin O’Neill. It was about as good as an interim spell could get as the veteran manager rolled back the years in Scotland to close the gap on Hearts. It handed Celtic the time to get things right in their managerial search, but they’ve done the exact opposite by hiring Nancy.
Now, O’Neill is “ready” to make a return to Celtic after Parkhead chiefs met to hold a “discussion” about Nancy’s future at the club, according to TeamTalk. The 73-year-old may not be a long-term option once again, yet it can’t be denied that he’d steady the ship in Scotland for the second time this season.
O’Neill’s interim spell
Record
Games
8
Wins
7
Draws
0
Defeats
1
The 4-2-3-1 boss simply got the best out of a Celtic squad which is a step below what is expected. Nancy, meanwhile, is struggling to get a positive response despite his persistence.
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It’s easy to say that the Frenchman needs time, but O’Neill’s record presents a case that Parkhead chiefs may not be able to deny in the coming weeks.