‘That chance is gone’ – Keith Wyness rips into Celtic after Wilfried Nancy latest
Celtic have mishandled the appointment of Wilfried Nancy in a further example of the board’s lack ambition.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen and Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who has said the board should have explained the appointment at their AGM.
However, Celtic’s AGM was abandoned as tensions rose further between the board and supporters, with the fanbase wanting change at the top of the club.
Nancy is in advanced talks with Celtic and is close to being officially unveiled as their new manager, with Martin O’Neill currently in temporary charge of the club.
Celtic board handling supporters frustrations ‘in the wrong way’
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 – believes the Celtic board could have quashed speculation that Nancy is the cheap managerial appointment at their AGM.
The Frenchman has never managed outside the MLS, so there are concerns over his pedigree and whether he will be able to deliver continued success at Celtic.
Celtic narrowly beat St Mirren 1-0 last time in the Scottish Premiership out to continue their pursuit of league leaders Hearts, who currently have a four-point lead at the top of the table.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna and Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen were also candidates to take over the vacant position.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the board have therefore missed their chance to brief supporters on the managerial search.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Look, I get the board’s argument. They’re saying that they have got a duty to preserve the future of the club. But I think that goes beyond the amount of money that they squirrel away in the bank accounts.
“I don’t think the fans have seen enough actual investment. I tend to side with the fans on that. Although I fully understand, but I just think there could have been a better use of funds in terms of developing.
“I’ve often talked about Celtic could have even bought another club made an investment in that way to try and create a pipeline of talent. Fans would have accepted that.
“But at the moment, they’re just seeing that European blow going out to Kairat as a big issue for them. And that’s resonating right now. And the board are handling this, I think, in the wrong way.
“Now, there’s also the way that this is going on to Wilfred Nancy now, who’s supposedly coming in from Columbus Crew. A lot of fans are getting behind this saying he’s the cheap option and that Celtic should be aspiring higher.
“So this whole debate is resonating and I think they had a chance at the AGM to try and put an end to it, have it out and get everything cleared and try and clear the air and move forward. That chance is gone.”
Wilfried Nancy’s January transfer targets
Nancy already has targets lined up for the January transfer window to bolster Celtic’s forward options.
Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali will be a target for Nancy at Celtic, alongside team-mate Diego Rossi.
The Hoops have a number of injuries in attack, with Callum Osmand, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jota currently on the sidelines.
Daizen Maeda is also expected to leave Celtic in January after putting in a transfer request during the summer transfer window.