Nine days into the January transfer window Michael Nicholson has still to sign a striker for Celtic.
Players can be signed at any time, they can be registered in advance of the transfer window opening, even the hopeless Celtic CEO knows it can be done. Hearts and Livingston had new signings playing on January 3.
In December 2021 with Ange Postecoglou and Frank Trimboli holding his hands Nicholson actually did his job.
On December 31 Celtic announced the signings of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi. On January 14 Matt O’Riley joined Celtic.
A year later Celtic were even more efficient.
ANGE SHOWS NICHOLSON WHAT TO DO
On 3 December 2022 they announced Alistair Johnston was signed on a five year contract. The Canadian made his debut at Ibrox on January 2 and hasn’t looked back.
Celtic have. On 1 January 2023 Peter Lawwell was confirmed as Chairman. Celtic’s transfer activity hasn’t been the same since.
At the aborted 2025 Celtic AGM shareholders were ‘treated’ to pre-recorded interviews from Nicholson and Lawwell.
In a clearly agreed ploy both admitted that mistakes had been made during the summer transfer window.
No detail was given. No promises made.
Clearly it was a box ticking exercise before Ross Desmond was let loose then the AGM cut short.
Clearly Nicholson has learned nothing.
The ‘leading sports lawyer’ is miles out of his comfort zone negotiating transfers.
He’s been working 24 hours per day since the transfer window opened and hasn’t managed to sign a couple of quality first team wingers with tens of millions of £s at his disposal?
Mibbe he’s no the right man to be involved in finalising player purchases.— E-Tims (@ETimsNet) August 6, 2025
In 2024 Brendan Rodgers dragged his CEO by the scruff of the neck to finally get some decent deals over the line.
THE UN-MANAGED DECLINE
Last year Nicholson and Paul Tisdale strangled the life out of the Celtic squad. With incoming and outgoing deals.
Nine days into the January 2026 transfer window and Celtic have added Julian Araujo to their squad. No strikers, no urgency, seemingly no interest from Nicholson.
Martin O’Neill returned as manager on Monday. Presumably he held talks, discussing what the squad needed.
On Tuesday Celtic arranged media conferences for broadcasters then newspapers.
On Thursday morning the Kyogo Furuhashi story was released.
It is highly unlikely that O’Neill will have a new striker in place for training this morning. Setting out his plans to face Dundee United, putting his stamp on the squad.
The interim manager was already up against heavy odds. It seems that Nicholson is adding to that by refusing to sign a striker.
Wilfried Nancy and Tisdale have both left the club this week.
The quicker that Nicholson joins him the better. Without doubt the second worst CEO in Celtic’s history.
TRANSFER NIGHTMARE OF 2025
In January Nicholson celebrated the 1-0 win over YB Berne by signing off on the transfer of Kyogo to Rennes. The match away to Aston Villa was on no interest.
Among the replacements put to Rodgers was Shin Yamada. The Celtic boss wisely rejected that deal before it was imposed on him in July. The end had begun.
Rodgers opted to retain and work with Johnny Kenny rather than blow money on Tisdale suggestions.
The goals of Nicolas Kuhn were sold to Como at the start of July as Celtic started pre-season. Nicholson didn’t bother signing a replacement right winger, a position that Celtic were already short in.
After losing to Kairat Almaty in the Champions League Nicholson wasted £10m on Sebastian Tounekti and Michel Ange Balikwisha.
Celtic then sold Adam Idah, pocketed £7m and signed Kelechi Iheanacho as a free agent.
To the outsider it may look like a case of sabotage, if its not that it is just incompetence on the part of Celtic’s £822,000 a year CEO.
10 Comments
by John A
I have long thought it’s intentional. What’s in the 5 way agreement? Sevco need a hand to win it.
by Kevin
Nicholson & his cohorts have utterly failed this club. What I will say is I think all transfer targets were cancelled as soon as MON came in on Tuesday & he’s publicly said he has final say on players so I’d imagine he’s making sure he wants player x y or z so I wouldn’t say Nicholson has failed him just yet….time yet tho 🙈
by Charlienic
Kevin, Rodgers too had final say on transfers but still got yamada imposed on him, true all targets of tisdale should be ignored but even posters on talkceltic have listed possible targets so what is nicholson working 24 hours a day doing?
by Kevin
Yes it’s been a scourge on Celtics recruitment for years but I’m pretty sure MON won’t allow anyone foisted upon Hon in this short period. He’s a winner & wants to win this league
by FS Fitzgerald
No board can be that incompetent.
You’d expect at least one member to speak out about their actions but there’s a deafening silence from this lot.
It’s been deliberate.
by Bhoy4life
“Mind that life saving drug you need is at a good price at the pharmacy doon the road….aye a know, am in no rush , a don’t take it till next week”.
“I see Tesco are selling your favs off for practically nothing the noo….aye? Al pop doon next week”.
I see yer m8s selling twa tickets for ACDC but he’s had hunners efter them…..aye? Al gi him a phone on ma days aff”.
Just what exactly is Celtic’s transfer strategy?
Just exactly when does MN grasp the urgency of situations…if at all?
While whoever is in charge of fielding a winning team, he appears to be fannying around without a care in the world.
I get we have had some sliding doors moments but are all of Tidsdale’s targets been so bollocks that MON has literally bombed them all?
And if his judgement was that bad, up until last week they were probably all gonna walk through those sliding doors while MN nodded in silent approval.
MON now finds himself identifying players that fit his purpose but a man with the personality of a dog toy negotiating for them.
The only difference being he doesn’t call PL first to see if the “price is right”.
Not a one of us wants the club to make panic buys just to fill holes, but ffs, when clubs like Hearts, Livvy and even a skint Sevco can get it done in a couple of days, what does that say about us?
MN needs to be doing prompt, respectful and decisive business to restore some pride and honour to the clubs name with regards buying players instead of reinforcing the cheapskates opinion they now have.
Give the manager the tools he needs to win the league…..now!
How in the name of feck can that be difficult for someone who’s been doing the job for years already?
by William Kinney
My opinion is, Nancy & his back room team & Tisdale were surplus, DD knew MON would step back in as interim, some discussions were being made to placate MON , if MN strategy is to bring in a 20year old project player & a loan for an ex striker, then nothing will change , the board & DD are only trying to mask the real disdain that they have for our fan base , we have to keep up the pressure, because MON will go at the end of the season , probably feeling let down, but he’s too nice to come out & say , HH
by Valentine's day massacre
I will ask this question again ! What is it that Nicholson and the Celtic board do not like about being successful and all of the spoils which accompany winning leagues and cups ? Because the alternative is not even worth discussing . Their attitude is to me like ‘ oh we have done well recently , time for another club/clumpany to win for a change? ” I’m surprised Nicholson hasn’t used Brexit as an excuse …or the Donald’s tariffs !
by John roberts
I honestly think now that MN IS SABOTAGING this and has been for couple of years now,as a lot of yous have already said you can’t be this incompetent without having a motive behind it,to me it feels like MN is trying to do rangers a favour is this some initiation of the 2n a half men or something?there’s somthing no right way this,just get out the door and hire someone else.
by Gary Gillan
To say Nicholson works 24 hours a day is one person’s opinion.
Surely if he was doing his job properly he would have his phone turned on & answer very important calls regards signings….. you know that story.
Nicholson & other board members along with Tisdale have been diabolical & embarrasing on player recruitment & Nancy’s appointment yet no board member has been held to account so far for the playing squad being so thread bare in numbers & quality with certain players not replaced over the past year whilst banking profits for Kyogo, Khun etc