Celtic are poised to make a swift move for Wilfried Nancy, the Columbus Crew manager, in a bid to secure a new gaffer after Brendan Rodgers' acrimonious departure. The Scottish champions have apparently informed the MLS outfit that they're interested in the Frenchman, with talks expected to accelerate over the weekend.
The news has left Martin O'Neill's caretaker spell hanging by a thread, as Celtic hope to have Nancy on board for their next match against St Mirren next weekend. A successful move would mark a swift end to O'Neill's temporary tenure, which was initially intended to be a temporary measure until a new permanent manager was found.
Nancy may have started out as an outside bet when Rodgers' departure was announced, but he appears to tick all the right boxes for Celtic - emerging coach with experience in developing young talent and a willingness to accept transfer policies. The 45-year-old has already proven himself as a capable MLS manager, guiding Columbus Crew to seventh place in the Eastern Conference this season.
Despite initial interest in Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich Town manager's reluctance to leave Portman Road has scuppered any chance of him taking charge at Celtic. Robbie Keane and Bodø/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen were also considered for the role, but Paul Tisdale, Celtic's head of football operations, appears to have identified Nancy as his first choice.
As negotiations with Columbus Crew gain momentum, it's clear that Nancy is becoming increasingly attractive to the Scottish champions. With any necessary compensation not regarded as problematic, it seems likely that he'll be on his way to Glasgow before the end of next week - and put an end to O'Neill's caretaker spell in the process.
The news has left Martin O'Neill's caretaker spell hanging by a thread, as Celtic hope to have Nancy on board for their next match against St Mirren next weekend. A successful move would mark a swift end to O'Neill's temporary tenure, which was initially intended to be a temporary measure until a new permanent manager was found.
Nancy may have started out as an outside bet when Rodgers' departure was announced, but he appears to tick all the right boxes for Celtic - emerging coach with experience in developing young talent and a willingness to accept transfer policies. The 45-year-old has already proven himself as a capable MLS manager, guiding Columbus Crew to seventh place in the Eastern Conference this season.
Despite initial interest in Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich Town manager's reluctance to leave Portman Road has scuppered any chance of him taking charge at Celtic. Robbie Keane and Bodø/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen were also considered for the role, but Paul Tisdale, Celtic's head of football operations, appears to have identified Nancy as his first choice.
As negotiations with Columbus Crew gain momentum, it's clear that Nancy is becoming increasingly attractive to the Scottish champions. With any necessary compensation not regarded as problematic, it seems likely that he'll be on his way to Glasgow before the end of next week - and put an end to O'Neill's caretaker spell in the process.
... i'm not surprised they're making a move for him, especially after brendan rodgers' messy departure 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to work with a coach who's got a track record of developing young talent and can accept the transfer policy? 
! Celtic need a fresh face after Rodgers' exit, and Wilfried Nancy seems like the perfect fit 
. His experience with developing young talent and willingness to adapt to transfer policies would be a huge plus for the Scottish club 
. I can already imagine him bringing some exciting tactics to Parkhead stadium 
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. It'd be great to see him in action against St Mirren - Fingers crossed it'll be a swift end to O'Neill's caretaker spell 
. i mean, Rodgers was out, but it looks like nancy's gonna be the new kid on the block 
. and tbh, o'Neill's caretaker spell was always gonna be short-lived anyway 
. i'm loving this development & can't wait to see how it all plays out 
. hope they get him in ASAP so they can focus on the match against st mirren 
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! They're really gonna try to snag Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew? I mean, the guy's got some great credentials under his belt - guiding them to 7th in the Eastern Conference this season. But at the same time, it's hard not to wonder if they're rushing into things here 
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... nancy is like the ultimate sleeper hit, right? nobody saw him coming but now celtic wants him bad 
... and what's up with o'nneil's caretaker spell just hanging on by a thread? like, does anyone even want to be in charge of celtic anymore? 
and 7th place in the eastern conference is huge for columbus crew, that's some serious credentials for someone who wasnt even expected to get the job... i'm telling u, nancy is gonna be perfect for celtic 
! The flow is so smooth, it's like a well-oiled machine 
. And the headings are on point 
! It feels like a breath of fresh air to read something that doesn't feel like it's all over the place.
. Maybe some graphs or infographics to show how Columbus Crew has been doing this season? That would've made it even more engaging 
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. I think he'd be an awesome fit, especially with all his MLS experience and youth development skills 
Let's hope the talks go smoothly and O'Neill's caretaker spell comes to a swift end 
#NancyToCeltic #CelticFC #MLSManager #YouthDevelopmentMatters
They need someone who can lead them to more titles and keep up with their rivals in the Premier League. 
. People are gonna say he's a dark horse candidate, but I think that's what sets him apart from other managers. The guy has proven himself in MLS and has experience with developing young talent, which is exactly what Celtic need right now 
. Plus, his willingness to accept transfer policies is music to the ears of Hoops fans 
. O'Neill's caretaker spell might be over before you know it