Celtic ‘getting more and more toxic’, the new manager ‘won’t challenge the board’
Celtic’s expected appointment of Wilfried Nancy as their next manager will not help the fanbase in their efforts to oust the board.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen and Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who can’t see a change in the Celtic hierarchy with Nancy in the dugout.
Nancy is set to become the next permanent manager of Celtic following the interim period of Martin O’Neill.
The Celtic fans have protested against the board throughout the season, which has stemmed from a frustrating summer transfer window for the club.
‘Deep issues’ emerging at Celtic
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that Nancy will not have been the fans’ choice of manager to challenge the Celtic board.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness can’t see protests from the fans ending in the near future.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think it’s a difficult situation. It’s getting more and more toxic.
“I think we’re going to see more protests during games as well. They’re on track reasonably well in the league. Hearts have dropped some points and so Celtic, I think, are only four points behind now. So they can actually see that sort of coming back.
“But if they don’t start getting back in form in terms of getting above Hearts at some stage, winning a title, winning a cup, then I think Celtic will get more and more toxic.
“And the new manager at some stage, I think he’s also seen as not somebody who will come in and challenge the board immediately. He’s not that experienced. And so I think that’s another issue that the fans would have, that they see the board bringing in somebody who’s going to be a bit of a yes man and not come in asking for money straight away.
“And they’d have preferred a more experienced manager who would have come in, challenged the board. So it’s a difficult situation. Certainly we know the Old Firm, it’s a great soap opera. And at the moment, the Celtic one is not a happy one.
“Even though a couple of results in the Scottish Premier League have helped, it’s not the full answer and there are some deep issues behind it and they’re refusing to confront them together properly. Now, rather than an AGM, they could even have a staged event where they have an open debate. And I think that would be great to try and release the tension and release the steam.
“It wouldn’t have to be a formal AGM, but they could actually have people speaking together and having hearing both sides. And if the fans are heard, that often means, it means a lot to at least know they’re getting their point across. And I think that would be something that I would recommend to the Celtic board at present.”
Wilfried Nancy faces European challenge
Celtic generate greater revenue than Rangers, and they have posted a new club-record in 2024-25 after turnover increased.
Many fans believe the funds should be invested into the team, with the club having reached the knockout stages of the Champions League last season.
Celtic recorded an important 3-1 victory at Feyenoord to keep their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout rounds alive this week.
The Hoops have three games left in the league phase, with Nancy set to take charge of those vital fixtures.