Celtic's board of directors are maintaining a public stance of unwavering support for under-fire manager Wilfried Nancy, despite growing unrest among supporters following a historically poor start to his tenure.
A Record-Breaking Run of Defeats
The pressure intensified dramatically on Wednesday night after a 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United. This result marked Nancy's fourth successive loss since taking charge, making it the worst opening sequence for any manager in the illustrious history of Celtic Football Club.
The reverse at Tannadice was particularly significant, as it represented the first time since January 1978 that the Parkhead side have endured such a dire run of form. This dismal streak has also included losses to Hearts, Roma, and St Mirren, leaving the team adrift in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Boardroom Backing Amidst Mounting Pressure
Despite rampant speculation on Thursday that the club's hierarchy was poised to dismiss the former Columbus Crew boss, sources close to Celtic insisted such reports were "wide of the mark." This backing was echoed by chief executive Michael Nicholson in a pre-recorded address released before the Dundee United match, where he revealed discussions about the January transfer window were already underway with Nancy.
Mail Sport understands that, despite the latest defeat, this planning continues ahead of Sunday's crucial home fixture against Aberdeen. However, with the team now certain to trail league leaders Hearts at Christmas, the scrutiny on the 48-year-old Frenchman is reaching a critical point.
Doubts Over Transfer Strategy and Future
The board's steadfast position has not quelled concerns, with former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov openly questioning whether Nancy should be entrusted with leading the club's January recruitment drive.
The Bulgarian legend, who played under Martin O'Neill, highlighted the contrast with the interim period where a conventional 4-3-3 formation yielded seven wins from eight games. Nancy's attempts to implement a 3-4-3 system have so far proven disastrous.
"After what we've seen so far, would you trust the manager with the funds, the money that he wants to spend, and the players that he wants to bring in? That's a big question," Petrov told Sky Sports.
He added a stark warning: "There's another two weeks until the transfer window opens and, if he doesn't win games, I don't think he'll see the transfer window... You only get time if you win games. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people don't have much patience, especially the Celtic fans."
With challenging away fixtures at Livingston and Motherwell, followed by a showdown with Rangers at Parkhead looming, Nancy's immediate future hinges on a rapid reversal of fortunes. The patience of the Celtic support, accustomed to sustained success, is being severely tested.
