The debate over Wilfried Nancy's future as Celtic manager is effectively over. Any notion that the board would grant him time to see his project through was extinguished on a dramatic afternoon at Celtic Park, where his side surrendered a first-half lead to lose 3-1 to arch-rivals Rangers.
A Managerial Reign Unravels
From being nine points clear not long ago, Celtic now lead Rangers only on goal difference, a statistic that underscores an extraordinary rate of decline. Nancy's record makes for grim reading: just two wins from his first eight matches in charge, with a staggering 18 goals conceded. In the league, his team has taken a mere six points from a possible 18—form akin to a relegation scrap, not a title defence.
This latest capitulation followed a painfully familiar script. For 45 minutes, Celtic were the better side, taking a deserved lead through Hyun-jun Yang's blistering 20th-minute strike. Yet, as in previous defeats to Hearts and Dundee United, they imploded after the interval.
Rangers' Resurgence Seals the Fate
Danny Rohl's Rangers, unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games, regrouped at half-time. They levelled within five minutes of the restart through Youssef Chermiti, who later added a second to complete the turnaround after capitalising on a catastrophic Celtic throw-in. Mikey Moore's low drive for the third goal rubber-stamped a victory that turbo-charges Rangers' title ambitions and leaves Celtic in crisis.
The contrast with Martin O'Neill's interim stint is stark and damning. The former boss won seven of his eight matches when briefly in charge, a record that will not have escaped the Celtic board. Nancy's plea for patience, voiced just days before this match, now rings hollow. As the article notes, "Only a manager whose side are demonstrating tangible signs of progress can be granted such leeway."
The Inevitable Fallout
The atmosphere at Celtic Park turned toxic as the second-half collapse unfolded, with anger directed squarely at the dugout. Nancy's tactical setup, utilising Auston Trusty as a lone central defender in a back three, was ruthlessly exposed after the break.
While Rangers look upwards, aiming to reel in Hearts at the summit, Celtic have become "less of a concern" to their rivals. The focus now shifts to the Parkhead boardroom. The only remaining question is not if, but how swiftly, the board will act to remove Nancy and begin the search for his successor. For Martin O'Neill, the phone may soon be ringing with another SOS call.
