Celtic next manager contenders revealed after Wilfried Nancy sack call, Parkhead hero in pole position
Celtic suffered a fourth consecutive loss on Wednesday, further intensifying the pressure on new head coach Wilfried Nancy.
Despite Daizen Maeda‘s opening goal, Celtic lost 2-1 to Dundee United after a quickfire double in the second half piled on Nancy‘s misery.
The Frenchman arrived at Parkhead just over two weeks ago, but already faces huge calls for the sack after four dismal results.
Celtic fans blasted Johnny Kenny after his performance against Dundee United, but much of the anger was directed towards the head coach.
Nancy is under incredible pressure at Celtic, and could make history by marking the shortest tenure ever with the Bhoys.
Martin O’Neill leads Wilfried Nancy replacement shortlist
Celtic fans want Martin O’Neill to replace Nancy, and it is easy to see why. The Northern Irishman was brought in following Brendan Rodgers‘ resignation and solved several problems instantly.
Under the 73-year-old, the Bhoys scored at will and were defensively sound, winning seven of their eight fixtures after the switch.
Results perhaps papered over the cracks of lacklustre performances at times, but O’Neill‘s team usually got the job done.
| Dundee United | Match stats | Celtic |
| 26% | Possession | 74% |
| 16 | Shots | 17 |
| 7 | On target | 2 |
| 1.16 | Expected goals (xG) | 2.75 |
| 0 | Big chances | 5 |
It has been the opposite problem for Nancy, who, despite seeing his team dominate the action against Dundee United, ended up on the losing side again.
Celtic scored just one goal from a huge 2.75 expected goals on Wednesday, directing just two of their 17 shots on target, and converting one of five big chances.
But results are like gold dust for Nancy at the moment, and even one more defeat could force decision-makers at Celtic Park into unwanted action.
O’Neill leads the race at 2/1 to replace the former Columbus Crew boss if he is sacked, followed by Kjetil Knutsen (4/1), and Robbie Keane (11/2), according to one major bookmaker.
What O’Neill said after Celtic exit will encourage fans
O’Neill had not managed for five years since his 2019 exit from Nottingham Forest when he received the call from Celtic, but the Northern Irishman appeared to recapture his love for management during his seven-week fairytale return.
Speaking to talkSPORT earlier this week, he admitted that he would have stayed on if he was asked to.
“Only if asked,” the former Aston Villa boss said. “That was not a driving force. I’d happily have stayed on.
“If they had asked me to stay on, I would’ve done so, but the minute that they said, ‘no, that’s your time’, that’s fine by me.”
O’Neill may well receive the call once again in the coming weeks, and whether he accepts it again or not, remains to be seen.