Celtic fans send DMs to blundering Nicholson and Wilson

Michael Nicholson and Brian Wilson were left in no doubt about the feelings of Celtic fans today.

Martin O’Neill again came to the rescue, he delivered another 4-0 home win to keep the direct heat of the serial failures in the boardroom.

Unlike last Saturday there were no post-match protests at the top of the Celtic Way.

O’Neill may have provided a much needed win but nothing will take attention away from the failings of Nicholson and Wilson. Both are following on from Peter Lawwell, they are both displaying all of the characteristics of their mentor.

With Lawwell bailing out, the spotlight is on Nicholson and Wilson.

NICHOLSON WILL NEVER ESCAPE FROM HIS NANCY DEAL

Amazingly some messengers are trying to paint the picture of Nicholson rising to the challenge and insisting that Wilfried Nancy got sacked.

That kind of misses the point that the CEO was so delighted by the Frenchman that he twice went on Celtic TV to drool over the worst manager in Celtic’s history.

As a non-executive Director Wilson’s job is to apply checks and balances. To ensure best practise.

Inside Celtic the former Labour MP has been on mute for over 20 years. He never said a word on the appointments of Mark Lawwell, Paul Tisdale and Wilfried Nancy. It can never be calculated how many tens of millions of pounds those appointments have cost Celtic.

Wilson has been Chairman for 10 days. The sacking of Nancy and appointment of O’Neill presented him with a real opportunity. To show leadership, to read the room.

WILSON’S HOLLOW WORDS

In the statement welcoming O’Neill, Chairman Wilson said:

The immediate priority is to get back to winning ways and while today’s events do not address every issue, I would appeal for unity within the stadium to create the best possible environment for the manager and team to launch the fight-back

That appeal for unity was a very rare admission from the club that the #celticfamily is an absolute myth.

Based on a grainy long distance video clip and minor charges against four fans Celtic have suspended the Green Brigade. Almost 300 Season Ticket holders. The most vocal fans in a sedate, placid stadium.

Wilson raised the prospect of unity. Then did nothing. No communication with the Green Brigade or the Celtic Fans Collective. A soundbite made on Monday night that carries as much substance as a manifesto pledge.

Worthless. Empty rhetoric.

Nicholson directly has Mark Lawwell, Tisdale and Nancy on his record.

That and seven failed transfer windows since Ange Postecoglou and Frank Trimboli showed him how to do the job.

NICHOLSON AND HIS UNMANAGED DECLINE

While Lawwell got away with the managed decline that forced Brendan Rodgers out in February 2019 luck appears to have run out on Nicholson.

He cranked up his campaign to undermine the manager last January when he sold Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes.

Friday’s failure to re-sign Kyogo brings that story full circle. With so many failings in-between.

But nothing defines Nicholson more than the Nancy appointment. He engineered Rodgers out the door then jumped all over the appointment of the seventh best coach in the MLS Eastern Conference.

True, Tisdale led the club towards Nancy through his mate Kwame Ampadu but Nicholson is CEO, senior to Tisdale. He could have called it off.

Despite the deflection efforts of club messengers nothing can erase Nicholson’s glowing endorsement of Nancy:

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.

ONLY THE TIMING REMAINS TO BE DECIDED

It is only a matter of timing before Nicholson follows Nancy and Tisdale out the door.

No competent manager will go near a job where recruitment is dependent on Nicholson’s negotiating skills.

His record through 2025 is testament to his leadership skills and judgment.

Wilson and Nicholson can keep the Green Brigade out for now but they both know that the Collective has exposed their failings.

Neither will be in the comfy seats this time next year, neither will be missed.