The Frenchman is facing massive pressure after just 32 days in the hot seat
Pressure is ramping up on Wilfried Nancy and the Celtic board after a calamitous defeat to Rangers.
The 3-1 defeat means moves Danny Rohl’s level on points with second-placed Celtic, who are now six adrift of Hearts after the leaders beat Livingston later on Saturday. Raging punters staged a post-match protest directed at the club hierarchy with pressure on the Columbus Crew boss rapidly approaching breaking point.
The Frenchman insisted post-match that he still had the support of the decision-makers despite a miserable run of just two wins in eight games. Those include defeat to the table-topping Jambos, a Premier Sports Cup final humbling by St Mirren and now defeat to the Hoops’ city rivals.
Before Nancy’s arrival reports emerged claiming they had eight candidates. It was just 32 days ago that the 48-year-old was unveiled as the new gaffer, so the list of candidates who could replace Nancy should still be somewhere in Paul Tisdale’s office as the Head of Football Operations and the other Parkhead decision-makers face a big call.
Some contenders have landed new jobs – meaning a black marker will have to be taken to the first draft with some new names hastily scrawled on the A4 sheet if that list is now pulled out the recycling bin. But who could come in quickly to steady the ship?
Record Sport takes at who BetVictor put on the early list of candidates. Who is open to a move, and who has closed the door?
Martin O’Neill
He’s the obvious choice, but will Celtic pick up the phone for an SOS to the Parkhead icon for a second time this term? O’Neill led the club to seven wins from eight before Nancy’s arrival, having been appointed on an interim basis following Brendan Rodgers’ sudden departure
He confirmed he would have extended his interim stay at the club on talkSPORT: “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.”
Under O’Neill Celtic went from being eight points off the top to level with Hearts and hold a game in hand when he left. Will the decision-makers look for more magic if under-pressure Nancy is axed?
Bookmakers odds: 2/1
Robbie Keane
Last month, the Ferencvaros boss threw open the door to stepping into the hot seat – and he is back among the favourites to land the hot seat if the Hoops take action and show Nancy the door.
He admitted there were no talks about replacing Brendan Rodgers as Celtic boss – but the Irishman refused to rule out the possibility of one day making a dream return to Parkhead.
Keane, 45, won a league title Maccabi Tel Aviv and followed it up with another championship triumph last year in Budapest.
Before seeing off Rangers in the Europa League, he said: “You can never say never in football. Of course. I’m one of those guys that I never think too far ahead. I can’t. I have to concentrate on what I do because you take your eye off the ball here, then you start losing games and you lose your job.”
Bookmakers odds: 6/1
Ange Postecoglou
2025 was a tough year for Ange Postecoglou – being shown the door by Tottenham despite a Europa League triumph, before a short stint in the Nottingham Forest dugout.
So, could 2026 bring a homecoming? Well, Japan rugby boss and close pal Eddie Jones reckon his focus is elsewhere as it stands.
He said in November: “The biggest story in rugby is the England coach being under pressure. Everyone wants to hear about it.
“Everyone has an opinion, it’s an attractive story. It’s the same in New Zealand. Scott Robertson felt the pressure of not being as successful as he would like to be, and again, there is all that conjecture.
“Both of those jobs are pretty taxing, it would be like being in a Premier League job. My mate Ange lasted 39 days in the job and he got cut.
“We keep in contact. I saw the rumour about Celtic, but I don’t know whether he would want to go back there or not. I think having experienced Premier League he would like to stay in that area.”
Bookmakers odds: 10/1
Kjetil Knutsen
Bodo/Glimt’s domestic season is over, and a decision has still to be announced on out of contract Knutsen. While reports in Norway suggest a deal is agreed, a formal announcement has yet to be made by the club.
Asked about the prospect of joining the Scottish champions amid talks with Bodo in November, he said: “Nothing is certain in life.
“I am here now and I am happy, and then we can enjoy a nice football match. It is hopeless to answer about other club.
“I answer as I always do – (if I leave) it should be something that is more exciting than Glimt.”
Bookmakers odds: 10/1
Craig Bellamy
After Brendan Rodgers was shown the door, Bellamy was quickly on the Parkhead agenda. We understand former Hoops winger and current Wales boss Bellamy was one of the early favourites of Hoops’ decision-makers before Wilfried Nancy landed the job.
But the Welshman has insisted he is in no rush to walk away from the job in the middle of their bid to reach the World Cup. In November he said: “I can understand the links because I played there. “I’m coaching, so I definitely understand the links. But to me, I love what I’m doing at the present moment. I have to be honest.
“I’m completely focused on what’s set to come – there’s going to be a play-off in March, we know that. And to me, that’s all I’m focused on. I know it’s a little bit cliched but it’s the honest truth.”
With Bellamy committed to staying until at least March, could Celtic now play a waiting game with pressure rocketing in Nancy?
Bookmakers odds: 14/1
Kieran McKenna
The Ipswich boss will cost something in the region of £5m…
“It’s not something I’ve given any thought to and where any part of my concentration is this week to be honest,” he said.
“I know I’ve got a really special job here at a special club, a massive football club that I have and have built a great affinity to and we’re in a really important season and a really important stage of the season.
“We’ve got a big week coming up, three big games starting on Saturday at QPR, so honestly anything outside of that hasn’t touched my radar this week. I’ve not had any of those conversations or anything of the like.”
With the international break coming up, this one could move.
Bookmakers odds: 16/1
Damien Duff
The former Parkhead coach surprisingly left the Shelbourne hot seat in June – having led the club to their first title in 18 years in the previous campaign.
He has already made it clear he won’t be looking to return to the UK any time soon. Speaking to the Irish Independent about his future last month, he said: “I’ve had decent roles offered in England, I won’t lie, but I didn’t even need to talk.
“I’ll know when I know. And my family comes first, so I won’t be rushing back to the UK or wherever. So, yeah, I’ve had decent offers, but I haven’t even wanted to talk to people. I could literally tell them on text, a big flat no. So, yeah, I’ll just know when I know. It’s pretty simple.
“I know a lot of people, especially when I was coming across here to Fifa, people were like, ‘Duffer, it’d be great for networking and what have you.’ Here, I don’t like networking. I’ve always just trusted that whatever will fall in my lap. So, I haven’t been putting my name out or put my name to jobs or chasing jobs. I have always been, maybe it’s a bit of shyness or not backing myself, but I’ve always just waited for people to come to me. And that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Bookmakers odds: 20/1
Scott Brown
It feels like it WILL happen one day, but will it be sooner rather than later? It’s a long-shot for the Ayr United boss, and speaking last year he conceded he would have to earn the job.
The Parkhead icon said: “At Celtic what I have done and how I’ve played that’s all in the past – you don’t become the manager because you just played at Celtic. You’ve not got the right to manage Celtic. You have to go and earn it.”
Bookmakers odds: 25/1