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Latest updates

  1. Celtic fan representatives propose steps towards reconciliation with boardpublished at 22:41 GMT

    Celtic fans hold up green and white scarves during the Old Firm derbyImage source, SNS

    Celtic supporter representatives have proposed steps towards reconciliation with the club's board.

    In an open letter to interim chairman Brian Wilson, the Celtic Fans Collective appealed for common ground while again calling for changes to the club's hierarchy.

    Wilson has shown a willingness to address fan concerns since replacing Peter Lawwell in the role last month and appealed for "unity within the stadium to create the best possible environment for the manager and team to launch the fightback".

    He admitted replacing Wilfried Nancy with Martin O'Neill did "not address every issue" but had previous said Celtic were going through a "strategic" review to undergo a "process of change".

    The removal of Nancy and head of football operations Paul Tisdale, plus the return of O'Neill, will take the edge off fan anger that was evident during and after Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Rangers.

    But ongoing talk of boycotts and indefinite suspension of the Green Brigade, who dispute the version of events which led to their ban, threaten to undermine O'Neill's attempts to restore a positive atmosphere before Saturday's match against Dundee United.

    The relationship between the board and wider fan base has collapsed over the past year after a perceived lack of investment, failure to qualify for the Champions League and then Nancy's disastrous reign.

    The Celtic Fans Collective stated its desire to "move towards a period of reconciliation and systemic change".

    "Where we do agree with a board member is in interim chairman Brian Wilson's call for unity," their letter said.

    "This has been sorely lacking all season and Celtic can only reach its true potential where there is unity across the club: board, manager, players and, crucially, the Celtic support.

    "This is something that all fans want to help push the team in the race for the league title. However, that can only come though a process of mediation, contrition and reconciliation.

    "We are calling on Brian Wilson and representatives of Celtic Football Club to meet with Celtic Fans Collective on the spirit of reconciliation and a genuine desire to achieve unity."

    However, the group issued three caveats, calling for modernisation and effective communication of the club's football strategy including merit-based appointments.

    The statement also demanded a reset of the executive team, arguing that chief executive Michael Nicholson and finance officer Chris McKay should step aside "given their stated responsibility for the appointments" of Tisdale and Nancy.

    Representatives also sought the reinstatement of the Green Brigade and fan media credentials and for engagement with supporter groups.

    The statement added: "We are keen to get behind the manager and players given the importance of the months to come.

    "However it's worth noting that 142 active supporter buses contacted us over the weekend urging the steering group to call for a boycott of an upcoming home match.

    "Fan anger has reached a breaking point and the underlying causes of this must be addressed."

  2. 'Every single supporter delighted' - Collins on O'Neill's returnpublished at 18:37 GMT

    Martin O'NeillImage source, SNS

    John Collins isn't surprised to see Martin O'Neill back in the Celtic dugout and insists "he should never have left".

    O'Neill took interim charge of the club following Brendan Rodgers' resignation in late October and won seven out of eight games before being replaced by Wilfried Nancy in December.

    But after six defeats in eight matches, most recently Saturday's 3-1 Old Firm capitulation, Nancy was sacked and O'Neill is back to steer the ship for the remainder of the season.

    "It was no surprise," former midfielder Collins told BBC Scotland about O'Neill's return to Celtic.

    "I thought it would happen straight after the Rangers game. He should never have left, let's be honest, he did such a good job in a short period of time.

    "I think every single Celtic supporter is absolutely delighted he's back. He's experienced, he unifies the club, everybody loves Martin O'Neill at Celtic, nobody has a bad word to say about him.

    "He's proved the kind of impact he'll have. He's got that calming influence, he's a motivator.

    "The players never played great but he got results, made changes to the team, brought players that hadn't been playing in the team - Yang Hyun-jun was a fine example, Martin brought him in out the cold and all of a sudden he looked a different player - and he's got qualities and vast experience."

  3. What do Celtic need in January?published at 18:21 GMT

    have your say graphic

    The transfer window has been open a week and Martin O'Neill has stressed Celtic's need for reinforcements.

    So far the club have signed Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth, with the Mexican defender making his debut in the derby defeat that spelled the end of Wilfried Nancy's calamitous reign, while Jahmai Simpson-Pusey's loan spell from Manchester City was cut short.

    What positions do Celtic need to strengthen? And who would you like to see brought in?

    Send us your thoughts here.

  4. 'Not a ceremonial role' - why Celtic need proper director of footballpublished at 13:16 GMT

    Tino
    Fan writer

    Celtic fan's voice

    They used to say a week is a long time in football. But what about a day?

    In yet another whirlwind 24 hours in Celtic's season of chaos that is 2025/26 we witnessed:

    • The removal of Wilfried Nancy after losing six of his eight games during a managerial spell lasting just 33 days.

    • The removal of Paul Tisdale, our de facto director of football since October 2024. A reign in which we replaced talents like Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn with, among others, Shin Yamada and Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

    • The return (the re-return?) of Martin O'Neill, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, now tasked with reigniting our title charge after falling six points behind leaders Hearts.

    And while the season is very much salvageable at this stage, and while success between now and May remains entirely possible, any such achievement would come despite - rather than because of - the way the club has been run.

    The dysfunction on display has become impossible to ignore and it undermines any claim Celtic are being operated as a modern, elite European football club.

    If we want to be taken seriously again, lessons must finally be learned.

    The first, and most obvious, is the need for a proper, exhaustive and professional search for a permanent director of football.

    This is not a ceremonial role, nor a convenient buffer between the boardroom and dugout. It is arguably the most important non-playing position at any serious club.

    Details of Tisdale's appointment process remain vague, but it's hard to argue it was the result of a rigorous recruitment process.

    Was he demonstrably the best candidate available? Did he possess the track record, skills and character required to succeed in the role? The evidence suggests otherwise, and the consequences have been painfully clear to see.

    Recruitment has been Celtic's Achilles heel for too long. Project signings, short-term thinking and a lack of coherent squad planning have left successive managers firefighting rather than building.

    A competent director of football provides structure, continuity and accountability, ensuring managers inherit squads suited to their style, as opposed to the clearly mismanaged squad currently at the club.

    Until Celtic embrace that reality, managerial changes will continue to feel like sticking plasters that may – or may not – see us through a season or two.

    Stability and genuine progress will remain elusive, while claims to be ambitious and even world class will again be nothing more than soundbites.

    The events of this week, let alone the season so far, should not just prompt further reflection among the powers that be at Celtic, but should instead lead to real, lasting change.

    Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

  5. How did Nancy manage to become Celtic boss?published at 10:28 GMT

    Nick McPheat
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS

    Wilfried Nancy is gone, Martin O'Neill is back, but one question remains - how and why did all that just happen?

    The heat from Celtic fans on the club's board has been cranked up following the Nancy debacle, which has resulted in O'Neill's rapid return.

    Joining from Columbus Crew in the MLS, where Nancy enjoyed success, the Frenchman appeared out of his depth in Scotland, losing six of his eight games.

    The support now want answers. The fact Paul Tisdale also left his role of head of football operations points to him being at least partly responsible.

    There was a link between Tisdale and Nancy's assistant coach Kwame Ampadu, who worked with Tisdale during his time as a manager at Exeter City.

    However, final decision-makers at Celtic would have signed off such a significant deal, and how that deal got the green light has caused serious head-scratching.

    "There has to be a fall guy and Tisdale is the fall guy," said former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on BBC Sportsound.

    "From Dermot Desmond and the board's point of view, somebody has to be blamed for this catastrophic situation.

    "It's a bit embarrassing when you compare things to where Celtic were six months ago. Tisdale's been the go-to person when it comes to the football operations.

    "This is the bit I can't fathom, you're going to quiz a manager, get every bit of information, how he's going to play, the system, how he sees the profile of the players... I'm sure Tisdale must have done that.

    "If you're getting the wrong answers or the guy isn't giving you the information, there must have been alarm bells going off."

    Meanwhile, Paul Brennan, editor of Celtic Quick News, says the Celtic board were correct to "think differently" and try to find a hidden gem by appointing Nancy - but the Frenchman "could and should have gone four games ago" when it was clear he wasn't up to the job.

    And on Tisdale, Brennan says he "was never a fit for the club". He added: "The Tisdale appointment was unfathomable. The man's heritage was Exeter City, he had never played or competed in top-tier football in any country.

    "He had never recruited at the level that Celtic were expected to play at. We had gone from a head of recruitment who spent a decade at Manchester and recruited someone who spent 12 years at Exeter City."

  6. O'Neill on 'strange' return, Celtic transfers & Maeda futurepublished at 16:46 GMT 6 January

    Martin O'NeillImage source, SNS

    Martin O'Neill has held his first media conference since returning for a second spell as Celtic interim manager this season.

    Here are the key points:

    • O'Neill begins with a joke: "Gosh, I had a seance last night with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra - and both were really disappointed because I've made more comebacks than them."

    • On being back, O'Neill says it feels "every bit as strange as it was the first time" and adds: "I think if you ever needed proof of anything, we're in the results business, you have to win some football matches."

    • While it is "really nice" to return, O'Neill expresses sympathy for Wilfried Nancy, who lasted just 33 days in charge: "I genuinely feel for a manager who has had little time to get his feet under the table, put his plans across and things like that." O'Neill later backs Nancy to "come again and be a really good coach or manager".

    • While O'Neill's previous temporary stint this season felt like being a "supply teacher", now he knows he is in charge until the end of the season but says "if I don't win the football matches, I come under pressure as well."

    • O'Neill had a meeting with the players this morning and says that while they are "naturally disappointed with the recent results and the way things have gone", they are in "decent spirits" and he is sure they are "up for the battle ahead".

    • On the call from Celtic's principal shareholder Dermot Desmond asking him to return: "Regardless of the results here, you're still a bit surprised. I don't speak to Dermot that often in that sense, but if that's what he wanted to do and that's what the board wanted to do, then I was happy enough to go with it."

    • The 73-year-old doubts whether he would have "the capacity" to stay in the job beyond the summer, adding: "I'm 112 on my next birthday, so I think time is kind of running out for me. But I'd like to try and do well in it and who knows what the board might think. But I would not be - and I'm serious about this - I wouldn't be thinking any longer than the end of the season for me, regardless of what happens."

    • O'Neill says he has not been set any targets by Desmond but knows Celtic have to "fight back after adversity".

    • Celtic face a "difficult task" to win the league, with O'Neill adding: "No bones about it, there are fewer games to play now than before and Rangers must have gained a psychological advantage there over us. But we still have to catch Hearts, and the way that Motherwell played the other evening against Celtic, they might well be the best footballing side in the league."

    • On transfers, and with head of football operations Paul Tisdale having also been sacked, O'Neill says Celtic "definitely need to supplement the squad" as quickly as possible and his assistant Shaun Maloney has "been working in the background on certain things".

    • O'Neill adds: "I will rely on Shaun and Mark [Fotheringham] and Stephen [McManus], their opinion on players. But eventually it will be down to me as much as anything else. Or if they don't do well, I'll blame Shaun. And if they do brilliantly, then I shall take all the credit."

    • The Northern Irishman is "hoping" for a busy transfer window and says: "If the board were to listen to me, we would have about 56 players, so I will try to narrow it down. I know what positions we need to strengthen in and that's what we're going to try and do. It's a difficult window, and in terms of buying players, things like this, that'll be difficult, but we do need to supplement the squad."

    • O'Neill would "love" to keep Daizen Maeda - who wanted to leave in the summer - but says: "I just came in last night, so there's little point in me saying, 'Oh, he's really happy, he wants to stay here', and then tomorrow morning he's gone. I don't know, I'll have a word and find out what he's thinking, even if it's through his agent. I think there was a bit of disappointment with him, because the move didn't go through [in the summer], but he's got going again. It would be actually really important for him to stay, if that's the case, but I genuinely don't know."

    • After Nancy immediately implemented a 3-4-2 formation, O'Neill intends to go back to "what worked for us" during his first spell this season, adding: "Again, it's players, we can get bogged down with the systems and stuff like this, but whatever system we do decide to go with, just let's not have any excuses, let's go and try and win."

    • On his family's reaction to him taking the job again: "Exactly the same. Honestly, my two daughters really, really delighted: 'Go for it dad!' And my wife said, 'You'll mess it up!' She said that the last time - she's claiming she didn't, but she did, so it's the same thing - but I think there's a real, genuine excitement about this, so go for it."

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  7. Simpson-Pusey heads to Cologne after Celtic disappointment published at 15:27 GMT 6 January

    Simpson-Pusey graphicImage source, SNS

    Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will spend the rest of the season with Cologne after the Manchester City defender's disappointing loan spell with Celtic was cut short.

    The 20-year-old's only Celtic appearance came in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock in November during Martin O'Neill's first stint as interim manager.

    Simpson-Pusey completed a medical over the weekend and has now joined his new Cologne team-mates at a training camp in La Nucia, Spain, during the Bundesliga's winter break.

    "The move to Cologne is a fresh start for me, and one I'm really looking forward to," Simpson-Pusey said on the German club's website. "I want to play as much as possible here and help FC to reach their goals this season."

  8. Nancy's 33-day Celtic tenure in quotespublished at 12:54 GMT 6 January

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS

    Nancy on his appointment

    "I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey. I know what Celtic means to so many people and my number one aim will be simple - to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of."

    Chief executive Michael Nicholson

    "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."

    Major shareholder Dermot Desmond

    "He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic. Everyone at the club will unite strongly behind Wilfried as we move forward and we will ensure we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.

    Nancy on his style of play

    "We want to take care of the ball. The ball is the only tool in our life, without talking, that we can connect people. So can we use the ball to create emotions? Can we use the ball to score goals? Can we use the ball to have messages between us?"

    Nancy on losing to Hearts in his first match in charge

    "Listen, I'm not about losing or winning. I'm about having a good performance. I want to win but for me it's about individually what we can do better. The most important thing for me is if we give everything as a player individually."

    Nancy after becoming the first Celtic manager to lose his opening two games

    "I expected it. Come on guys, I just came one week ago. A few players played six games in a row, we have injured players, we have big games coming."

    Nancy, after three opening defeats, on whether he should have waited to change the team's formation

    "It's totally normal that people criticise me or say certain things regarding the system or the way I play because I don't win. But I'm going beyond winning. It's about character, it's about personality, it's about coherence."

    Nancy when asked if he had underestimated Scottish football after losing his fourth match, against Dundee United

    "No, I know Scottish football. I know the way it is. I come from France. I come from Europe. I was close when I was a player to sign with Carlisle."

    Nancy after two late goals against 10-man Aberdeen earned his first win

    "I don't believe in luck but since I've been here I haven't had luck."

    Nancy after defeat by Motherwell

    "I knew that this could be a bit difficult because of the way they play and where we are at this moment."

    Nancy before the visit of Rangers

    "I know that I don't have time, because this is the way it is in my job. So, yes, I want to ask you, give me time, and you see my team."

    Nancy after 3-1 derby defeat in his final game

    "The level that we had at certain moments was really, really, really high. We are really close to things turning around. But yeah, for the moment, details, details, details."

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  9. The parallels with sacked 'idealists' Nancy and Amorimpublished at 11:49 GMT 6 January

    Nancy and Amorim

    Did Wilfried Nancy's refusal to "bend to pragmatism" mean the Frenchman was always doomed to failure at Celtic?

    Nancy has departed after losing six of his eight games in charge, with last weekend's 3-1 derby defeat at home to Rangers the final straw.

    Football writer Stephen McGowan has highlighted the "amazing parallels" with Ruben Amorim, who was also dismissed by Manchester United on Monday.

    "Nancy will go down as the worst Celtic manager in history," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

    "I don't think there's any way of getting away from that. I think statistically and in every other metric and measurement as well.

    "I was actually quite struck by the amazing parallels of Amorim at Manchester United. Sacked on the same day, both appointed mid-season.

    "Both idealists who came in determined to play 3-4-3 come what may, at all costs. And both sacked there the same day because they refused to bow or bend or accept the fact the players they had at their disposal just weren't suited to that system.

    "And it does seem to be a trait of the modern manager, doesn't it? This inability or unwillingness to bow or bend to pragmatism.

    "We saw Danny Rohl do it to some extent for Rangers at the weekend in the second half. And it's just something that Nancy refused to do.

    "Ultimately, be it Nancy, be it Amorim, you have to look at the people who are running the operation, who appointed them in the first place, and who thought it was a good idea to bring in such idealistic managers in November because be it through timing, be it through personnel, whatever, it was never destined to work. It was craziness."

  10. 'Nancy was a guy in wrong movie'published at 10:44 GMT 6 January

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS

    I go back to Wilfried Nancy's quote - "I'm not about losing or winning, I'm about having a good performance" - and a few others he came out with, which just reflected a guy who was in the wrong movie, who didn't know the landscape that he was now in.

    Maybe he was given this advice. Maybe he was told there are a number of things you can't say in this city, and "it's not about winning and losing" is top of the list.

    Maybe somebody told him that. But if they did, he hasn't listened. This manager clearly believed he had time. He believed he was going to get patience to rebuild to whatever vision he claimed he could see, but nobody else could see.

    It's an awful lot of contradictions and confusion still now that he's gone, but it's relevant to what's left behind because there's people on that board who ratified Paul Tisdale's advice that this guy was their guy. And clearly, it was a disastrous appointment.

    Martin O'Neill should make things better - but he needs new players as well. We all remember his recent spell where he won every game domestically, but some of those games were desperate grinds.

    He got them through because he's Martin O'Neill and because the team were playing hard for him.

    He's now got more of those games coming up to the end of the season. And I don't think he can rely on just being Martin O'Neill and everything will be fine. He needs a cavalry here.

    Listen to more Celtic analysis on Tuesday's episode of the Scottish football podcast

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  11. 'Steady hand' O'Neill backed to revive Celtic after 'disastrous' Nancy reignpublished at 09:57 GMT 6 January

    Your views

    Here are some of your views on Celtic's dismissal of manager Wilfried Nancy and head of football operations Paul Tisdale, plus the return of Martin O'Neill for a second interim stint.

    John: How Nancy got the job is testament to the board sitting on their hands and not spending money. Lack of buying a centre forward has brought the house crumbling down around their ears. Martin is great in short term but how about Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown long term?

    Len: O'Neill did a brilliant job rescuing Celtic's season, and didn't receive the respect he deserved. He must now be properly rewarded, with a salary and status equal to former director of football Paul Tisdale. Maloney should also receive the same contractual status and remuneration as the disastrous Nancy. It's only fair. O'Neill and Maloney are two proven international-class footballers and coaches. Tisdale and Nancy were charlatans. Who appointed them? And for what purpose?

    Tom: Martin will see us through and show what we can do to get back on song, Europe and league title are still feasible with a steady hand in charge. Look to the long term very carefully now we have given Martin the reins for this season at least.

    David: Did anyone believe that Nancy would be a success? Tom English was spot on with his "hipster vibe" summary of Tisdale. Why has football become in thrall to these self-titled 'doctors' of football? Football is a simple game complicated by fools opined Bill Shankly. Never has a truer word been spoken.

    George: The board need to get off their high horse and hold direct talks with the fan groups.

    Chris: Correct decision on Nancy but we had nowhere else to turn but reinstall O'Neill. Who on earth would want the job? I'm just relieved to know Nancy did not get money to spend in the window. There are others in the boardroom who should do the decent thing after this appointment.

    Paul: Tisdale and those who backed his decisions are responsible for Nancy's demise and it's only right Tisdale has gone. He was never good enough, and those who appointed him should be going too. The squad isn't good enough, too many average players.

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  12. Nevin backs Clarke for Celtic move - gossippublished at 08:06 GMT 6 January

    Scotland manager Steve ClarkeImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Steve Clarke will be out of contract after the World Cup

    Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes the timing could be right for national manager Steve Clarke to take over as Celtic boss for the 2026-27 season. (Sun), external

    Red Bull Bragantino's Uruguay winger Ignacio Laquintana, 26, is keen to join Celtic. (National - subscription required), external

    Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

  13. Celtic must add to squad - and quickly, says Suttonpublished at 22:05 GMT 5 January

    Julian Araujo made his Celtic debut in Saturday's home defeat to RangersImage source, SNS

    While the choice to bring back Martin O'Neill is the right one, Celtic will not defend their title unless the squad is strengthened this month, says the club's former striker Chris Sutton.

    But, with head of football operations Paul Tisdale removed from his post, who will lead the hunt for new players?

    Mexico defender Julian Araujo arrived on loan from Bournemouth prior to the departures of Tisdale and manager Wilfried Nancy and a few more new faces are necessary, according to Sutton.

    "The thought process of the club, I'm hoping, is short-term," Sutton told 5 Live Sport's Monday Night Club. "It's just about winning the league now, nothing else matters.

    "I do think it's the right decision.

    "It's okay bringing him back, but if they do not recruit well in January, then Martin will be stuffed.

    "There's not a cat in hell's chance they win the league if they don't recruit. The squad is bang average and it needs improving."

    Sutton went on to describe O'Neill as the "safest and most sensible option" and was scathing in his assessment of the departed Tisdale.

    "He's a self-proclaimed doctor," Sutton told Sky Sports. "Doctor Dolittle, I think he was at Celtic. Nobody knew what he actually was doing at the club.

    "By all accounts, it was a case of him who had a large say in bringing Wilfried Nancy in. If he was in charge of recruitment over the summer, that was particularly poor. So it's the right decision to part ways.

    "But it certainly puts Celtic under pressure now in having to move quick in terms of recruitment, because there's absolutely no doubt that this squad needs strengthening in January and strengthening quickly."

  14. 'Restoration of confidence' key for O'Neill at Celticpublished at 21:07 GMT 5 January

    Martin O'Neill is back at CelticImage source, SNS

    Martin O'Neill knows Celtic are in for a "big, big fight" as the veteran manager bids to revive the champions following the departure of Wilfried Nancy.

    Describing his return as a "wee bit strange", the 73-year-old will be back in the dugout for Saturday's home game with Dundee United.

    And O'Neill must lift a side that has won just two of the eight games played since his previous interim period ended to make way for Nancy.

    "I used the phrase restoration of confidence when I first came in and I suppose that will be the message again," he told CelticTV.

    "The players can play.

    "The lovely thing about it is that players you know are very fine footballers can come back and play in the manner they have done in the past.

    "We know we are in a big, big fight. We're going to try and win the league and it won't be easy. We have to be up to the challenge."

    O'Neill, 73, has been installed until the end of the season.

    "That conversation with (principal shareholder) Dermot Desmond was one that I think maybe might go through to the end of the season, giving the football club time to really look around, get someone in who's going to be here for the next three or four years," he said.

    "But listen, I'm in the football business. I might not see it through to the end of the season. You know, you have to win football games."

  15. 'Nancy debacle an embarrassment for under-fire board'published at 18:08 GMT 5 January

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Behind the mic

    You can only achieve culture change if you take people with you.

    What Wilfried Nancy was trying to do - significantly alter the side's style from day one - required a minimum of two things: buy-in from the players and instant results.

    The reason the Frenchman is now the shortest serving permanent manager in the long history of the football club is that he clearly had neither.

    In the end it all boiled down to yet another massive gamble from those running the club. A 33-day experiment - a grand leap of faith - which blew up in their faces in spectacular fashion.

    Nancy wanted to play a certain way, in a certain formation regardless of whether he had players able turn his vision into a workable reality.

    Rather than use what he had to the best of their ability, he tried to shoehorn round pegs into square holes and his defence, using the word loosely, wasn't able to stop conceding goals.

    Nancy was a record-breaker. The first time a Celtic manager had ever lost their first two matches, never mind four. Six defeats from eight games all in.

    The opportunity to win the season's first piece of silverware blown in the League Cup final after the interim manager had taken care of Rangers in the semis.

    The other side of the city had its revenge over the weekend. A sweet, significant three points at the home of their bitter rivals. The final straw for a beleaguered, under-fire Celtic board who haven't just put Nancy out of his misery.

    The club's head of football operations, Paul Tisdale, who had the connection to the Frenchman in the first place, has also been sacked.

    Celtic fans have had several figures from the hierarchy in their sights lately. They've now watched chairman Peter Lawwell step back before the hasty departures of Tisdale and Nancy.

    Martin O'Neill and Wilfried Nancy

    A penny for the thoughts of Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay, chief executive and chief finance officer respectively. A section of the support will view this as three down, two to go.

    Of course, the clamour for the Celtic manager to be sacked had reached fever pitch. Seasoned football pundits confidently asserting Nancy was done prior to kick-off in the derby, others joining in once the dejected Frenchman trooped up the tunnel.

    There was no coming back from another defeat. The optics and results were woeful. He took the momentum built up under Martin O'Neill's interim stewardship and flushed it down the toilet. Celtic's renewed confidence shredded in little over a month.

    It's amazing to think it was only 3 December that Nancy officially swapped Columbus Crew and Major League Soccer for the Glasgow goldfish bowl, taking charge the following day. Eight chaotic matches later, and he's gone.

    Those six defeats, and particularly the manner of the last one in the derby, rendered things unsustainable. His position long since untenable.

    Prior to the two recent defeats against Motherwell and Rangers, he'd already spilled half of the available points in his first four Premiership outings and lost the League Cup to St Mirren. It turns out that is indeed a big enough sample size to warrant a sacking.

    It's quite the embarrassment for a club already at odds with a large section of their own fanbase, furious with the board for the flawed recruitment of the past year and the failure, as they see it, to grow and progress following three consecutive years of Champions League football.

    The curious thing in all this is that Celtic appeared to have stumbled on a successful formula immediately prior to Nancy getting the job.

    A club veteran and favourite, O'Neill, winning seven out of eight, restoring confidence and hope and mentoring a potential new generation of Celtic coaches in Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus.

    It wasn't broken but Celtic decided to fix it. Do they now go back to O'Neill and ask him to do it all again?

    Who'll sort out the recruitment side of things, with Celtic desperate for at least a couple of strikers and some fresh blood in a good few other positions as well?

    The next few days should be absolutely fascinating in this most extraordinary of seasons in Scottish football.

  16. Nancy's eight-game reign in eight picturespublished at 17:19 GMT 5 January

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Wilfried Nancy was welcomed by the Celtic crowd for his debut match - a top-of-the-table showdown with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts

    Wilfried Nancy with tactics boardImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    But Nancy's side would suffer a 2-1 loss, with his handheld tactics board - and eye-catching green and white trainers - dominating the extreme fallout of the defeat

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Images of Nancy with his hands on his head were a regular sight, seen here during a brutal 3-0 Europa League defeat to Roma in his second match in charge

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Nancy leaves Scotland with a runners-up medal, which we know counts for nothing in Glasgow, after losing to St Mirren in the League Cup final in his third game

    Callum McGregor and Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Captain Callum McGregor was often called over for pitchside discussions, but Nancy's Celtic were regularly outthought, like in the second half of their 2-1 defeat at Dundee United - a fourth straight loss for the Frenchman

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Nancy celebrated in his technical area as Celtic earned a late win against 10-man Aberdeen, but this victory - and the win that followed at Livingston - proved to be a false dawn

    Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Another sobering defeat was next at Motherwell, where Celtic were outplayed by Jens Berthel Askou's classy side

    Danny Rohl and Wilfried NancyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Saturday's Old Firm derby defeat proved to be the final nail, and the last images we saw of Nancy as Celtic boss show him receiving a sympathetic hug from Rangers head coach Danny Rohl

  17. 'Nancy argued there was progress - but nobody could see it'published at 16:51 GMT 5 January

    Scott Mullen
    BBC Sport Scotland

    Wilfried Nancy's league results
    Image caption,

    Wilfried Nancy lost four of his six Celtic league matches and six of his eight games in all competitions

    So many people will look at the results of Wilfried Nancy's tenure as being the reason for his departure. And for the most part they'd be right.

    However, the manner of those defeats is what did for him in the end. A stubbornness to play a system his group was not equipped to, defensively passive and meek, while unconvincing in attack.

    Leads were surrendered and against Motherwell they were thoroughly outplayed. Nancy relentlessly argued there was progress, but nobody else could see it.

    In a wild and chaotic Scottish football campaign, we now face a scenario where a fourth Old Firm game of the season will be contested by a new pairing of managers for the fourth time when the teams next meet.

    Quite incredible. We have never seen anything quite like it.

  18. Nancy sacking 'inevitable' - now 'bring back O'Neill'published at 16:35 GMT 5 January

    your views graphic

    We asked for your views on the sacking of Wilfried Nancy as Celtic manager after just eight games in charge.

    Here's what some of you said:

    Anto: Bring back Martin O'Neill to steady the ship again until a new appointment is made.

    Jim: It had to happen but what about any planned signings and who takes on poisoned chalice as other board members should be sacked?

    Henry: It was inevitable that this would be the outcome, although the team played well at times, the results were just not good enough. His refusal to stick rigidly to his preferred system was a sign of a poor coach, also the sacking of Paul Tisdale is great news too, fan power has worked at last.

    Michael D: Out of his depth for sure, but 100% culpability lies with those who sanctioned his hiring. They set him up big time.

    Colin: His tactics never worked. He didn't have the respect of the dressing room and was destined to fail. At least the board have made the correct decision with Tisdale going as well. Long way to go to win back the fans but it's a start!

    Will: Too little, too late. Nancy will be talked about for decades to come, board should all resign.

    John: The majority of supporters will welcome all of these dismissals. Clearly the manager and his staff have been sold a vision by Tisdale that was way off the mark. Fair play to the board but that too needs an overhaul. Onwards.

  19. Nancy sacking 'doesn't change anything' for Heartspublished at 16:26 GMT 5 January

    Brian McLauchlin
    BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

    Craig GordonImage source, SNS

    Former Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has had his say on the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.

    The 43-year-old is currently in his second spell at Hearts but spent six years at Parkhead.

    The Tynecastle club now sit six points clear of both Celtic and Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

    "It's a results business. It's never nice to see anybody lose their job," Gordon told BBC Scotland. "But from our point of view, it doesn't change anything.

    "We'll just concentrate on ourselves and that's all from a Hearts point of view that we'll be focusing on.

    "I think whoever comes in, you know the size of Celtic. It's a huge club. They expect to win almost every single match.

    "And when that doesn't happen, it's not an enjoyable place to be. For them, it's about starting again. For us, it's just about concentrating on what we've got to do.

    "We won't be looking at anybody else outside of our own. We've got a big job to do and that's all we'll focus on."