Former Celtic manager John Barnes has given his thoughts on Wilfried Nancy possibly becoming next Hoops boss…
Barnes – whose tenure at Celtic during the 1999–2000 season was a turbulent one – has expressed doubts about the Columbus Crew manager being the right fit for Celtic and hasn’t hidden his concerns.
Barnes immediately acknowledged that Nancy was not someone he previously knew of and argued that Celtic should be targeting a more high-profile coach.
Speaking via No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Barnes said: “I’ve not heard of him [Wilfried Nancy]. It’s going to be difficult. Once upon a time, at Celtic and Rangers, you needed a big-name manager, and I still feel you do, because it feels that’s what they should have.”
“But the reality is, from a financial situation, they’re looking for a manager now who can know the second-tier players or work with players who maybe aren’t the best players, if you like, rather than a manager with a big name who’s going to be able to attract these huge players, because they can’t attract huge players anymore.”
“Maybe that’s why they’re looking at him. As much as people will say it’s a step back, I suppose when Ange [Postecoglou] went to Celtic, not many people knew Ange, so maybe they’re going down that route again.”
As reports from Scotland and across the Atlantic indicate that talks for Nancy are advancing, the spotlight on Celtic’s hierarchy to get this deal over the line as soon as possible is intensifying.
This is not a time to be messing around with negotiations. The Celtic board must remember that the team play across three different competitions in December and a manager coming in just now will be facing tough matches domestically and in Europe almost immediately.
Brendan Rodgers departed the club nearly a month ago now and the club have had plenty of time to appoint a manager or head coach. There are no excuses now.
Meanwhile Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will take training today and count the players in who are coming back from international duty including of course Kieran Tierney, Anthony Ralston and Kasper Schmeichel who all had an eventful night at Hampden on Tuesday as Scotland defeated Denmark 4-2 to reach the World Cup Finals or the first time since 1998 with KT scoring the decisive goal past Kasper.
Conor Spence
Why is he even offering his opinion?? We want the right manager not just a big name, and frankly, I don’t care whether he’s heard of them or not!!
Does he, aye? Well I suppose everybody is entitled to an opinion, including John Barnes. I won’t make any ironic comment, tempting though it is.
There was somebody on TV making it crystal clear that in fact Kieran McKenna was “the best candidate for the job” because “he ticked all the boxes”.
My own personal favourite works in Belgium, but we’re not getting him, or McKenna, so we have to trust that Nancy can make a positive difference and make it quick.
Irrespective of his credentials, nobody knows how Nancy will stack up in the lights of Glasgow, the SPL, or Europe with his new system and tactical approach. Nobody’s opinion at this stage will change how successful that outcome will be.