Andy Townsend baffled by Celtic board decision after Nancy comments

Andy Townsend has admitted he is baffled by Celtic’s handling of Wilfried Nancy’s appointment, questioning both the club’s decision-making and the messages coming from the manager himself during a deeply troubled period for the Hoops.

Celtic find themselves at a crossroads, with pressure mounting on the board as another decisive weekend looms. A further defeat — particularly against Rangers — could force the hierarchy into making a major call on the club’s direction. The atmosphere around Parkhead has grown increasingly toxic, with fan protests becoming commonplace as results continue to slide.

The campaign has unravelled rapidly for Celtic. Since Brendan Rodgers’ departure in October, stability has been elusive, and matters have worsened following the appointment of Wilfried Nancy at the start of December. Replacing Martin O’Neill after his interim spell, Nancy has overseen five defeats in a short space of time, leaving supporters questioning why he remains in charge heading into one of the biggest fixtures of the season.

That confusion is now shared by former Celtic midfielder and Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend. Speaking on talkSPORT, Townsend expressed disbelief not only at Nancy’s struggles on the pitch, but also at the rationale behind his appointment and the comments he has made since taking over.

Townsend suggested that when you are losing matches at a club like Celtic, every word spoken in public is scrutinised. While managers can frame defeats in different ways, supporters ultimately judge success on results. In Nancy’s case, Townsend believes his messaging has failed to resonate with a fanbase accustomed to winning football.

One particular theme has stood out to the pundit. Early in Nancy’s tenure, the manager spoke publicly about prioritising performances over results — a stance that Townsend feels is fundamentally at odds with expectations at Celtic. According to him, that kind of language rarely lands well at a club where trophies, dominance, and victories are the standard measure of success.

Townsend argued that these comments became even more damaging when viewed in context. Nancy did not arrive in a vacuum; he followed Martin O’Neill, a manager synonymous with clarity, intensity, and immediate impact. O’Neill’s brief return as interim boss had stabilised the situation and reignited belief, leading many to question whether removing him so quickly was the right call.

Before O’Neill stepped aside, concerns had already been raised about Nancy’s appointment. Critics wondered whether a coach with limited time to work on the training ground could realistically turn things around mid-season, especially after replacing someone who had already begun to steady the ship. Those doubts, Townsend suggests, have now been borne out.

Reflecting on Nancy’s early interviews, Townsend recalled being taken aback by the emphasis on style rather than substance. He pointed out that after just a couple of defeats, Nancy spoke about being more focused on how the team played than on the outcomes themselves — a sentiment that immediately jarred.

Townsend contrasted that approach with O’Neill’s methods, highlighting how the veteran manager quickly restored organisation, belief, and momentum. With O’Neill, there was a clear understanding of what Celtic would get: intensity, results, and a no-nonsense mentality. In Townsend’s view, that made the board’s decision to move away from him even harder to understand.

The former midfielder questioned why Celtic’s decision-makers chose to go “down this road” with Nancy at such a sensitive moment. To him, the appointment felt poorly timed and ill-suited to the circumstances, particularly given the size of the club and the immediate demands placed on the manager.

Townsend’s comments underline a growing sense that Nancy’s position is becoming untenable. While the board have so far resisted calls for change, another defeat — especially in a derby against Rangers — could prove decisive. The pressure is not only about results, but about trust, communication, and whether the club’s leadership truly understands what Celtic require in moments of crisis.

As things stand, the situation feels increasingly fragile. Supporters are restless, performances are inconsistent, and confidence appears to be draining away. Townsend’s verdict reflects a wider belief that Celtic’s problems extend beyond the dugout and into the boardroom, where a series of questionable decisions have left the club facing an uncertain future.

With the Rangers clash approaching, all eyes will be on Nancy and the Celtic hierarchy. The result may determine not just the fate of the manager, but also how the board respond to mounting criticism over a call that, in Townsend’s words, “didn’t make any sense at all.”

‘Catastrophic’: Celtic legend claims Nancy is living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’

The image of Wilfried Nancy standing alone before the hills is a poignant one. He’s fast running out of allies after a disastrous start and will be hoping the comeback can start now.
(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has delivered a scathing assessment of Wilfried Nancy’s troubled start at Parkhead, warning that the club is drifting toward disaster unless decisive action is taken. Comparing the current situation to the doomed voyage of the Titanic, Sutton believes Celtic are heading straight for trouble under a manager whose ideas do not match the squad at his disposal.

Nancy’s reign has begun in disastrous fashion. Five defeats in his first seven matches represent the worst opening run ever endured by a new Celtic manager. During that short period, the champions have surrendered nine crucial league points, exited domestic cup contention, and placed their Europa League hopes under serious threat. Confidence within the squad appears shattered, and the pressure is intensifying ahead of a high-stakes derby clash with Rangers at Celtic Park.

For Sutton, the problems run far deeper than one match, even one as significant as the Old Firm derby. The former England international insists the Celtic hierarchy must urgently answer one fundamental question: are Celtic more likely to win the Premiership with Nancy in charge?

Based on current evidence, Sutton’s answer is blunt. He does not believe they are.

Drawing an analogy with the famous maritime disaster, Sutton suggested Celtic’s leadership is wasting precious time while danger looms. Like the Titanic’s captain who delayed responding to warning signs, the club risks catastrophe by hesitating. In Sutton’s view, Celtic are attempting to navigate a perilous course with a manager committed to a rigid system and players ill-equipped to carry it out.

According to Sutton, responsibility now lies squarely with the board. They must either immediately back Nancy by recruiting players capable of executing his tactical vision or accept that the experiment has failed and replace him with a more pragmatic and adaptable coach. Allowing the situation to drift is not an option.

Sutton argues that Nancy is trying to impose an idealistic style on a squad unable to cope with its demands. This, he says, is not a video game or a theoretical exercise but the harsh reality of elite football. While many supporters may see the Rangers game as decisive, Sutton insists the issues at Celtic are far bigger than one result.

Despite his reputation for supporting long-term planning, Sutton admitted discomfort at even raising the possibility of a managerial change so early. However, he believes that if Celtic are committed to sticking with Nancy, they must act immediately in the transfer market. Waiting until the end of January, he warned, could already be too late.

If Celtic choose continuity without reinforcement, Sutton fears the consequences will be severe. He described January as a defining moment, arguing that the club’s recent decision-making has lacked clarity and conviction. For him, the choice is straightforward: fully support Nancy right now or make a clean break.

Interestingly, Sutton stopped short of placing all the blame on the Frenchman himself. Instead, he pointed the finger at those responsible for appointing him. In Sutton’s view, Celtic’s decision-makers badly overestimated the current squad’s ability to adapt to Nancy’s system. While it is possible Nancy underestimated the demands of Scottish football, Sutton believes the greater fault lies with the executives who sanctioned the appointment.

He compared the situation to other managers who arrive with a clearly defined philosophy and refuse to compromise. If Celtic’s hierarchy knew Nancy was wedded to his ideas, they should have first asked whether the squad was capable of delivering them. The performances since his arrival, Sutton argues, have already provided the answer.

If the club insists on persisting with Nancy, Sutton believes they must commit fully and provide the resources required to make his approach viable. Failing that, he says, the humane and sensible option would be to end the experiment sooner rather than later.

Sutton reserved particular criticism for Celtic’s recent defeat to Motherwell, describing the performance as “catastrophic.” He dismissed any attempt to draw positives from the match, arguing that Celtic were not outplayed by an elite European side but by domestic opposition they should never be dominated by. Suggesting there were encouraging aspects, Sutton said, only reinforced the idea that Nancy is detached from reality.

He stressed that Celtic can lose matches, but the manner of defeat matters. Being comprehensively outplayed by Motherwell, in his view, exposed how unbalanced and confused the team has become. Unless Nancy is willing to adjust his approach, Sutton fears the same pattern will repeat itself.

Looking ahead to the derby, Sutton made a bleak prediction. For the first time in years, he believes Rangers will win at Celtic Park, despite not being particularly impressive themselves. He described Nancy’s side as chaotic, capable of creating danger but alarmingly vulnerable whenever opponents attack their penalty area.

Sutton criticised the tactical demands being placed on individual players, arguing that several are being asked to perform roles beyond their capabilities. He questioned the logic of using defenders in unfamiliar positions and deploying attackers as wing-backs. He also raised doubts about how returning players would fit into the system, suggesting key figures may be unsuited to Nancy’s preferred setup.

While acknowledging that Celtic have picked up wins against weakened or struggling sides, Sutton stressed that five defeats in seven matches cannot be ignored. He reminded supporters that Celtic have often won without playing sparkling football, citing previous eras where results mattered more than aesthetics.

The most damning statistic, however, is defensive. Celtic have conceded 15 goals in seven games under Nancy, and the players look uncertain and disoriented. For Sutton, the evidence is overwhelming.

Celtic’s leadership, he concluded, must confront reality. Patience has its place, but so does accountability. Either Nancy must be given the tools to succeed immediately, or the club must accept that the current path leads only to further damage.

As Sutton put it, the facts are already staring Celtic in the face.