Gavin Berry discovered little new year cheer on the Hogmanay Hotline as Wilfried Nancy was in firing line
11:41, 31 Dec 2025
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Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy
Happy New Year? Not if you’re Wilfried Nancy!
Thierry Henry urged Celtic to let Nancy cook and he would serve up something special at Parkhead.
But Hotline callers reckon the Frenchman’s goose is cooked after a fifth defeat in seven games has left him fighting for his job.
Nancy was assistant to compatriot Henry at Montreal and the Arsenal and France legend pleaded for patience during his early struggles in Scotland.
However, there was little evidence that fed-up Hoops legions are willing to show such patience following a 2-0 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park with an Old Firm derby looming.
David Beattie, Rothesay, said: “Thierry Henry wanted us to let Wilfried Nancy ‘cook’. Well, we have done that and he’s burning the house down! Listen, he’s a nice big guy who has clearly just walked into the wrong movie so it’s time for the Celtic board to right their massive wrong. Paul Tisdale has to go as well and bring back Martin O’Neill to sort out this mess again.”
Frances Munro, Inverness, said: “Wilfried Nancy has to go. He doesn’t have a clue how Scottish football works. We need to get Martin O’Neill back. There is still time to get this league won. Surely the board realise what a mistake they’ve made. How many games must we lose for this to end?”
Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “I listened to Wilfried Nancy’s post match interview after the defeat to Motherwell and it was like listening to Russell Martin with a French accent.
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Wilfried Nancy
"He spouted the same new age football jargon that bewildered and confused us Rangers fans. His team was beaten fair and square and he would have been better coming out and just admitting that. He is fast losing any goodwill that still exists within the Celtic fanbase.”
Alan Flett emailed: “Rangers have limped from one disaster to another over the last decade or so but the incompetence of the Celtic board is quite remarkable. Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the worst Rangers team in living memory have a real chance of winning the title. We all know Danny Rohl only got the Rangers job because nobody else wanted it but the Celtic board actually sought out Wilfried Nancy. The situation at both clubs is nothing short of embarrassing but in Celtic’s case there is no excuse.”
Paddy Gowans emailed: “Surely Celtic aren’t going to allow Wilfried Nancy to spend £10million to £15m on players in January. He’s well out of his depth as Celtic manager. It’s time for him to get - he’s clueless about our league.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “It wasn’t an unexpected result at Fir Park. Motherwell were worthy winners but what alarmed me most was for the first time this season certain players seemed to down tools. Wilfried Nancy’s ‘my way or no way attitude’ will prove to be his downfall. Losing to Rangers on Saturday must mean Martin O’Neill is brought back to oversee the transfer window.”
Charles Buchanan emailed: “I can’t see it being a Hoopy new year for Celtic on Saturday after watching the Motherwell game. That was probably the worst display I’ve seen from a Celtic team.
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Celtic's Callum McGregor
"They had no club and no understanding and the goals we are losing have been woeful. We need a clearcut. Too many players just aren’t good enough. I won’t be going on Saturday. Enough is enough.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “Wilfried Nancy is undoubtedly the worst Celtic manager I have seen in my 50 years of supporting the club. Utterly clueless and an absolutely embarrassment to the club. Motherwell won at a canter and the board must act straight away and sack him. But they won’t because they’re as stubborn as he is. If they let him spend millions in January it will set the club back years. As bad as Rangers are I fear the worst if he is still there.”
Joe Graham, Garrowhill, said: “Rohl along Danny boy! You are getting results most of us thought were impossible with the mixed-up team you inherited. With a decent January transfer window then we could even be serious title challengers. To help substantiate this, I would like to see some changes in the present formation. Big Emmanuel Fernandez - who scored again against St Mirren - could be the answer to our striker problem.
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"Remember Derek Johnstone who came to Rangers as a centre back and then took the No. 9 role where he became a legend. This could definitely be the answer. Fernandez has the height, the muscle, and the footwork, as well as the heading ability. To my mind it’s a no brainer. Title 56 could be on the cards.”