Scottish champions Celtic are moving swiftly to secure Wilfried Nancy as their new manager, with talks accelerating over the weekend. The club aims to have the Frenchman in place by the time they face St Mirren next weekend, bringing an end to Martin O'Neill's temporary spell in charge.
Managerial Search Nears Conclusion
Celtic have identified Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy as their primary target to replace Brendan Rodgers, whose second tenure in Glasgow ended acrimoniously in late October. The club informed the Major League Soccer side of their intentions on Friday, with compensation not expected to pose any significant problem to the deal.
Nancy, who previously managed Montreal in MLS, is believed to be keen on making the switch to Scottish football. He led Columbus Crew to seventh place in the Eastern Conference this season, demonstrating the coaching credentials that have attracted Celtic's attention.
Why Nancy Fits the Celtic Profile
The French manager was initially considered an outsider when first linked with the position following Rodgers's resignation. However, Paul Tisdale, Celtic's head of football operations, identified Nancy as his first choice for the role.
Nancy perfectly matches Celtic's desired profile of an emerging coach who can develop within their system and work within the club's transfer policies. His appointment would represent a significant coup for the Glasgow giants as they look to build for the future.
Other Candidates Considered
While Kieran McKenna was originally regarded as the favourite for the position, Celtic did not approach Ipswich Town regarding their manager. McKenna's compensation clause and expected wage demands placed him at the richer end of Celtic's budget scale, and he has shown little willingness to leave Portman Road.
Other candidates under consideration included Robbie Keane, while Bodø/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen has been regularly linked with the role in recent times. However, Nancy has emerged as the clear frontrunner in Celtic's search for a new leader.
The club's main shareholder, Dermot Desmond, met with caretaker manager Martin O'Neill in London on Friday as the process to appoint Rodgers's permanent successor moves into its final stages.
