Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic honeymoon never really got going — and it now appears to be over almost as soon as it began.
A 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden Park condemned the Frenchman to a third consecutive loss since taking charge, ramping up the pressure and noise surrounding the club.
Goals from Marcus Fraser and a second-half double by Jonah Ayunga sealed a historic triumph for St Mirren, cancelling out Reo Hatate’s first-half leveller and leaving Celtic stunned on the biggest domestic stage.
Nancy was appointed following Martin O’Neill’s brief return, which itself came after Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, but patience among supporters is already wearing thin. Celtic have now been beaten in all three of the new boss’s matches — 2-1 by Hearts, 3-0 by Roma, and 3-1 by St Mirren — with the performances themselves causing as much concern as the results.
Reaction from former players was swift and unforgiving. Club icon John Hartson took to social media to openly criticise Celtic’s decision to move on from O’Neill at such a pivotal moment.
“I wish they’d done what I said when Martin came in — give him until the final,” Hartson wrote. “These last three results don’t happen under my old gaffer. A huge mistake considering everything that’s gone on. Embarrassing today.”
Chris Sutton offered a more measured assessment but still delivered a stark warning, suggesting Nancy’s tactical ideals may not suit the current squad.
“I feel for Wilfried Nancy — he’s trying to implement a style,” Sutton said. “But he’s overestimated the level of the players at the club right now. To play the way he wants requires tactical intelligence, flexibility and decision-making — and this group doesn’t have that.”
The criticism reflects a broader sense of instability at Celtic this season. Chants aimed at the board rang out around Hampden, highlighting that Nancy has inherited a turbulent environment shaped by off-field issues long before his arrival. Supporter unrest, executive uncertainty and mounting frustration have created a high-pressure backdrop for any manager, especially one attempting significant tactical change.
Celtic showed brief flashes of promise against St Mirren, but Ayunga’s second-half strikes ruthlessly exposed defensive weaknesses and a lack of control once the game turned. Nancy has spoken about long-term principles, but at a club of Celtic’s stature, time is rarely afforded in such circumstances.
With a cup final already lost and confidence eroding rapidly among fans and former players alike, scrutiny on the new manager is only going to intensify.
Three matches. Three defeats. A final lost.
A brutal start by any standard.
Leave a Reply