Scottish Premiership sack race: Celtic update as two 2025 hires edge closer to dismissal
Wilfried Nancy and Stuart Kettlewell will each be fearing the sack at Celtic and Kilmarnock respectively after some poor recent form.
Nancy has only been at Celtic for just over a week, but supporters have been outraged with how his side has performed in his first two games in charge.
Celtic were beaten 3-0 by Roma in midweek after Hearts emerged with a 2-1 win in his first match at the helm, and some fans already want Nancy sacked after such a poor start.
Kilmarnock have won just two of their 16 league games this season and are in real danger of relegation unless something changes soon.
Stuart Kettlewell is also under serious pressure, with the axe surely looming unless he can get his side picking up results in the coming weeks.
Nancy and Kettlewell are each in danger of being sacked soon
Celtic legend Martin O’Neill had done a stellar job as interim manager with seven wins from eight games, but the Frenchman has failed to continue that strong form with two losses as boss so far.
Nancy’s poor start has raised questions around his suitability for the role, especially considering his lack of experience at a club the size of the Hoops, and one with such lofty expectations.
He has only just arrived at Parkhead, but things need to improve drastically with immediate effect for him to stay in charge for much longer, particularly given that Hearts still sit top of the table as it stands.
Kilmarnock’s goals are obviously very different to those of the Hoops, but under-fire boss Kettlewell is clearly not on his way to achieving them as the threat of relegation lingers at Rugby Park.
The 41-year-old was appointed as Killie’s new manager in May, and they started this season relatively well, but have slipped down to 10th in the Premiership after a shocking run of nine games without a win.
Both managers feel like the two most likely to be sacked next in the Premiership, with Russell Martin the only manager to be relieved of his duties in 2025-26 after being dismissed by Rangers in October.
St Mirren and Aberdeen clashes to be imperative to each manager’s future
Nancy is no stranger to lifting silverware after he led Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024.
He has the chance to win his first trophy as Hoops manager this Sunday (14 December) as they take on St Mirren in the League Cup final at Hampden Park.
Celtic are the current holders of the trophy, and Nancy will know that his future in charge could already rest on winning the game and restoring some feel-good factor among the fans and his players.
Not only do they need to win, but the players also have to look like they understand the tactics the Frenchman is trying to implement, as the biggest concern for many has been their desperately poor performances in the two matches that he has overseen so far.
As for Kettlewell at Kilmarnock, a win away at in-form Aberdeen could be the catalyst for a run of decent form, and his job being saved in turn.
Killie lost 1-0 to the Dons back in October but deserved more from the game as they dominated the statistics, so they can take some confidence into Sunday’s clash, with the 41-year-old potentially set to be sacked if they suffer a heavy defeat.