Celtic and Wilfried Nancy currently find themselves in a precarious position.
After a promising interim spell under Martin O’Neill, momentum has quickly shifted in the wrong direction under the club’s new head coach, with supporter patience already wearing thin. There is growing concern over how the atmosphere will turn should Celtic fail to secure victories in their upcoming fixtures — a tricky trip to Dundee United on Wednesday followed by a home clash with Aberdeen at the weekend.
Even before Nancy officially took charge, doubts lingered in some quarters about his appointment from MLS, and those questions have only intensified amid recent results. The noise surrounding his future has now sparked speculation over potential alternatives — including former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith.
Smith, who is currently in charge of Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer, previously enjoyed a successful spell at Aston Villa, leading them back to the Premier League and helping to re-establish the club in the top flight.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, Chris Sutton was asked about Smith being mentioned as a possible successor to Nancy. While Sutton made it clear he holds Smith in high regard, he stressed that any such move should only be considered at a later stage, insisting Celtic already have a manager in place.
Reacting to the growing criticism surrounding Nancy following Celtic’s League Cup final defeat to St Mirren, Sutton addressed the speculation directly during a discussion with Robbie Savage.
Savage asked whether Smith would be a good fit for Celtic, to which Sutton replied that he is a manager he admires and has met on several occasions.
However, Sutton noted Smith’s less successful short spells at Norwich City and Leicester City, before reiterating that now is not the right moment for change.
He added that if circumstances eventually shift, Smith’s track record — particularly his achievements at Aston Villa — speaks for itself.
Smith’s managerial career has largely been built in the English leagues, earning his opportunity at his boyhood club Aston Villa after impressive work with Brentford in the Championship.
The 54-year-old later took on difficult assignments at Leicester and Norwich, arriving late in relegation battles in attempts to steer both clubs to safety
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