What Wilfried Nancy’s time as Celtic manager was really like behind the scenes

Wilfried Nancy’s brief and turbulent spell as Celtic manager has continued to attract scrutiny, with fresh insight emerging into what went wrong during his short-lived reign at Parkhead.

The French coach was dismissed just 33 days after being appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor, bringing a swift and chaotic end to a tenure that never truly got off the ground. In the aftermath of his departure, Martin O’Neill was brought back once again as interim boss — his second temporary return to the dugout this season.

Now, pundit Michael Stewart has shed light on what he understands unfolded behind the scenes during Nancy’s time in charge, painting a picture of confusion, poor communication and misplaced confidence.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, the former Hearts midfielder explained that expectations around Nancy’s coaching methods did not align with reality. According to Stewart, there was a widespread assumption that the new manager would arrive armed with detailed tactical plans and clear messaging for the players.

Instead, what he heard from within the squad suggested the opposite.

Stewart revealed that he had been told there was a striking lack of instruction from Nancy, leaving players unsure of their roles and responsibilities. This issue was exacerbated by a dramatic overhaul of Celtic’s tactical system almost immediately after his arrival.

The pundit was particularly critical of the timing and scale of the changes Nancy attempted to implement. In Stewart’s view, it was unrealistic — and arrogant — to dismantle an established structure so quickly, especially with a crucial fixture against the league leaders looming just days later.

He argued that such sweeping alterations required time, trust and preparation, none of which were available under the circumstances. Expecting instant results after radically changing the way the team played was, in Stewart’s assessment, deeply flawed.

What further frustrated Stewart was what he perceived as Nancy’s justification after results failed to materialise. The manager, Stewart claimed, pointed to a lack of time as a reason for patience — an argument Stewart found unconvincing.

According to him, if Nancy believed he did not have sufficient time to bed in new ideas, then those ideas should not have been introduced so abruptly in the first place. Stewart suggested that the contradiction undermined the manager’s position and credibility.

While Stewart acknowledged that players cannot escape all responsibility for Celtic’s poor performances during that period, he was clear that the squad itself should not be underestimated.

He reminded listeners that this is a group of players who have largely dominated Scottish football for the better part of a decade. In his view, Celtic’s dressing room is filled with high-quality, experienced professionals who are more than capable of understanding and executing complex tactical instructions.

For Stewart, the problem was not that Nancy’s ideas were too advanced or intellectually demanding. Rather, he believes the issue lay in the absence of clarity.

Instead of being overwhelmed by complexity, players were left frustrated by uncertainty. Stewart described the situation as a “shambles,” claiming that members of the squad simply did not understand what the manager wanted from them on the pitch.

This lack of direction, combined with sudden systemic changes and mounting pressure, created an environment in which confusion replaced confidence. Without clear guidance, even the most talented players can struggle to perform consistently.

Nancy’s reign, short as it was, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of communication and adaptability when stepping into a role as demanding as the Celtic managerial position. At a club accustomed to success and scrutiny, immediate buy-in from players is essential — and that requires clarity above all else.

The decision to return Martin O’Neill as interim boss reflects Celtic’s desire for stability following weeks of upheaval. O’Neill’s familiarity with the club and its expectations stands in sharp contrast to the uncertainty that defined Nancy’s time in charge.

Ultimately, Stewart’s comments suggest that Nancy’s downfall was not rooted in a lack of intelligence or ambition, but in a failure to understand the environment he was entering. In attempting to make an instant imprint, he may have overlooked the fundamentals required to bring a dressing room with him.

For Celtic, the episode will likely prompt deeper reflection about managerial appointments and the balance between innovation and continuity — lessons learned the hard way during one of the shortest managerial stints in the club’s modern history.