Celtic fans traipsed out of Hampden yesterday wondering just what sort of nightmare they have stumbled into. Wilfried Nancy is the most obvious culprit but how did he make it into the manager’s job?
On November 2 Martin O’Neill drove the team through a semi-final victory at the same venue, later that month he steered Celtic to an unexpected win away against Fenenoord in the Europa League.
True, there was Midtjylland in-between but overall the handover was sound. He left the club in better shape than when he arrived. Much better.
Over three matches in eight days Wilfried Nancy has more than undone the good work of the interim manager.
As bad as the performances are the post match comments of Nancy are truly terrifying.
NOSEDIVE UNDER NANCY
Apparently he has the squad on the right track with the new manager pleased with aspects of play during his three matches in charge. Defeats to Hearts, Roma and St Mirren.
A manager sussed out and outsmarted by Derek McInnes and Stephen Robinson. Red flags anyone?
It all leads to the obvious question. How on earth did Nancy become Celtic manager?
The answer appears to be two words, or maybe four. Paul Tisdale, and, Kwame Ampadu. There appears to be no other explanation.
Nancy is the mutual contact between Tisdale and Nancy. A manager and youth coach from Exeter City 2008-2012. Who could have thought it?
It took Celtic 37 days to replace Brendan Rodgers who resigned on October 27. That decision could have been predicted from any time during July and August. No fan was shocked by Rodgers’ resignation.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS ‘EXPLAINED’
Sharing his delight at replacing Rodgers, Nicholson told the club website:
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 as 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.
There is one thing that the Celtic support deserve this morning. They deserved it last night.
The mass resignations or sackings of all involved in the appointment of Nancy. That starts with Nicholson and reaches Tisdale.
MEDIA SILENCE
Celtic bottled out of hosting a media conference to introduce Nancy as manager. The invited messengers asked no meaningful questions when the new manager previewed his first match, at home to Hearts.
At a normal club decisions at this level are taken by the CEO. No normal club would have Nicholson on their short list to become CEO.
No-one knows who appointed Nancy, what the process was, who interviewed him, what his strengths are. What qualities made Nancy the number one candidate. How he was identified as a candidate in the first place by a CEO with little real football knowledge or experience.
It took Nicholson four years to pluck up the courage to be interviewed by Gerry McCulloch for Celtic TV. To describe last week’s interview as underwhelming is an under statement.
No meaningful process was carried out to replace Rodgers.
There is a very limited field of candidates that will work with a no-mark like Tisdale dictating recruitment.
Any credible candidate approached by Celtic would contact Rodgers for an insight into how Celtic operates. Having delivered 11 trophies out of 13 and 12 Champions League points Rodgers only has to point to the statement issued by Dermot Desmond 20 minutes after Rodgers resigned.
INEVITABLE DEPARTURES
Only the timing of Nancy’s exit remains to be determined. He is the most visible person at the club. When he goes he has to be followed by Nicholson and Tisdale in whatever order.
Ten months after losing out narrowly to Bayern Munich it is time up for the executives at Celtic. They overdosed on complacency.
There is one great consolation to take from the multiple failings of the club. The Celtic Fans Collective.
A genuine, broad reaching movement has been created by the decisions, statements and inaction from the ‘leaders’ of the club.
Not Another Penny is well established. An escalation of action is now required to force through changes at every level.
There is no hiding place for Nicholson, Tisdale and Nancy. Others also need to go. The sooner the better.
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