Odds Slashed on Former Premier League Boss to Replace Wilfried Nancy at Celtic
Celtic head coach Wilfried Nancy remains under pressure just a month on from taking the job following the Hoops’ Old Firm defeat at home against Rangers, with odds slashed on his potential replacement.
On Saturday (January 3), Nancy’s Celtic fell to a 3-1 defeat against rivals Rangers despite Yang Hyun-Jun putting the home side ahead when he smashed past Jack Butland on 19 minutes.
However, former Everton striker Youssef Chermiti bagged a nine-minute brace in the second half to hand Danny Rohl’s side a shock lead.
With just over 20 minutes to play, Spurs loanee Mikey Moore shocked Celtic Park by slotting past Kasper Schmeichel to the delight of the away fans, while the majority of the crowd were stunned into silence.
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The win puts Rangers level on points with Celtic after 20 matches, while Hearts, who face Livingston later today, can go six points ahead of the Glasgow sides with a win at Tynecastle.
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Nancy, who arrived from Columbus Crew in early December, was already under scrutiny ahead of the Rangers clash as he’d seen his Celtic side lose five of his first seven matches in charge.
In his pre-match press conference on Friday (January 2), he gave a passionate speech during which he demanded to be given more time to make his mark at Celtic.
Nancy said: “I know where we are now. I'm not an underdog. I want my team to compete against any team. But with the context, I knew that this kind of situation happened. So now, as you know, I need time.”
However, patience may be running thin at Celtic Park with rumours already circulating about the Frenchman potentially being replaced by a former Premier League head coach.
As reported by Football Insider, former Celtic, Aston Villa and Leicester boss Martin O’Neill is the odds-on favourite - priced at 4/5 - to replace Nancy should he be sacked, with the Northern Irishman having already managed Celtic on an interim basis as they searched for a manager to replace Brendan Rodgers earlier this season.
O'Neill won seven of his eight matches in charge earlier this season and guided the side to the Scottish League Cup final.
The 73-year-old also managed the side between 2000 and 2005, a period during which Celtic won three league titles.
Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil returns odds of 3/1 to become the next permanent Celtic head coach, while ex-Celtic forward and current Ferencvaros head coach Robbie Keane is at 4/1.
Ex-Celtic winger and O'Neill's assistant Shaun Maloney is at 5/1, with England Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley at 6/1.
Celtic return to action at home against Dundee United on Saturday 10 January.
Luke Davies