Celtic have had three different men take to the Parkhead dugout this season, but it doesn’t top the road Nottingham Forest are going down in the English Premier League.
By the time Forest play their next Premier League fixture, on 22nd February against Liverpool, they will have a fourth different coach taking to the City Ground dugout.
This comes after Sean Dyche was sacked by Forest on Wednesday evening, after he replaced Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou in October, who had come in for now-West Ham United boss, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Relegation-threatened Forest recorded a goalless draw against bottom-club Wolves at home, and it proved to be the last straw for Dyche, who wanted to sign Arne Engels in January.
Celtic rejected various bids for Engels, as you sense this brutal call from Evangelos Marinakis could have a bearing on the Hoops when the transfer window re-opens in the summer.
Arne Engels of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht
Photo by Euan Cherry – UEFA/Getty Images
Nottingham Forest sack Sean Dyche after bidding for Celtic’s Arne Engels
Celtic rejecting £25 million for Engels was pretty remarkable, but given that the offers came on transfer deadline day, the club had no choice but to reject the offers.
Even the most ardent of Celtic fans would have hoped that Forest would come back in the summer, put the same amount of money down, and then they could accept such a mammoth fee to reinvest into a declining squad.
But given that it was Dyche who wanted Engels, and now he is out of the door, you sense that time has now passed.
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Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach.
We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the Club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further… pic.twitter.com/q6LPADIsDw
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) February 12, 2026
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Engels’ injury adds insult to interest
On Wednesday night, as Celtic beat Livingston in the Premiership, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the main concern from the match was Engels’ worrying-looking injury.
It looked serious, and if the 22-year-old is out for an extended period, then it just makes those rejected bids even worse.
A real blow to lose Arne Engels as he goes off injured against Livingston
Which Celtic player replaces him in the starting XI for the next game?
Arne Engels of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht
Photo by Euan Cherry – UEFA/Getty Images
Now, the powers that be at Celtic wouldn’t have known such a scenario would occur, but if Engels doesn’t return this season, then rejecting that £25 million will now just sting a little more.
It seems as though the main reason for not allowing Engels to leave was that Celtic couldn’t bring in a replacement.
But if he doesn’t play again, then you just wonder if anybody will bother coming in for him this summer.
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