Chris Sutton believes Wilfried Nancy’s departure from Celtic was “inevitable” after the defeat to Rangers, but insists the club’s problems run deeper.
Saturday’s Old Firm collapse was the last resort for Nancy, who was sacked after losing six of his eight games in charge, with the club reappointing Martin O’Neill on an interim basis until the end of the season.
The Frenchman had just 33 days left on his two-and-a-half-year deal after the club’s form deteriorated dramatically after winning seven of eight games under O’Neill.
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Watch highlights from the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers.
Rangers are currently level with Celtic in the Scottish Premiership and six points clear of leaders Hearts, but Sutton believes the decision to part ways with Nancy has increased their chances of winning a fifth successive title.
“It was too much of a risk to keep Nancy in the position. He was a stickler, set in his ways,” the former Hoops striker told Sky Sports News.
“It’s a bit like the situation with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, but for a shorter period of time.
Under manager Wilfried Nancy, Celtic had a very high defensive line, with wing-backs placed most forward.
“He changed Celtic’s style, moving to a 3-4-3 and insisting on playing a certain way. He just wasn’t adaptable and it was Nancy’s kamikaze that led to Celtic losing six and scoring as many goals.”
“The game before Rangers, the defeat at Motherwell, the way we lost it was humiliating.
“At that moment, many Celtic fans thought it was time for Nancy to leave. He took charge against Rangers and Celtic played well, but the theme of the performance was to play well in patches. They showed too much vulnerability.
“It was inevitable that Nancy would come on as a substitute and it was the right decision. Celtic must give themselves the best chance of winning the title.”
Head of football operations Paul Tisdale, who played a big role in bringing Nancy to Celtic from Columbus Crew, has also left the club.
“Nobody knows what Paul Tisdale was doing at the club. He’s Dr. Dolittle,” added the former Celtic striker.
“He had a big say in bringing Nancy in, but if he was involved in reinforcements over the summer it was also poor. It was the right decision for him to part ways.
Paul Tisdale has been appointed as Celtic’s director of football operations in October 2024.
“Celtic are under pressure at the moment because this team needs to strengthen quickly in January.
“The players have to take some of the responsibility. It wasn’t just under coach Nancy that we were bad, we had problems at the beginning of the season.
“Brendan Rodgers was hoping to bring more quality to the club, but that didn’t happen. It ended on a sour note.”
“Things looked a little brighter under Martin O’Neill and he did a great job, but the team wasn’t playing particularly well.
“Nancy came in and destroyed everything, but the problem is much deeper than Nancy.”
Nancy coaches Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gouguen and Maxime Challier also depart, with O’Neill taking charge alongside Sean Maloney and Mark Fotheringham in Saturday’s league game against Dundee United.
Ahead of O’Neill’s reappointment, Sutton said: “In the short term, the safest bet would be to bring back Martin O’Neill and Sean Maloney.”
“Now we just have to win the game and Martin has done it brilliantly in a short amount of time.
“Knowing Martin as well as I do, he knows that the club needs reinforcements in January and that is the wisest option.”
Will Martin O’Neill and Sean Maloney (right) serve as interim managers for the second time this season?
O’Neill, 73, returned to the Celtic dugout in October, 20 years on from his first spell as Parkhead manager, following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers.
They won all four of their Premiership games under the Northern Irish manager, beating Rangers to reach the League Cup final, but Nancy’s side lost to St Mirren.
Celtic’s upcoming fixtures
Dundee United (H) – Scottish Premiership – January 10 Falkirk (A) – Scottish Premiership – January 14 Auchinleck Talbot (A) – Scottish Cup – January 18 Bologna (A) – Europa League – January 22 Hearts (A) – Scottish Premiership – January 25 Live on Sky Sports
