Wilfried Nancy didn’t get long in the Celtic job.
In his 33-day spell, he took charge of eight matches – losing six of them, in a start unprecedented in Celtic’s history.
After defeat to Rangers in the Glasgow Derby last weekend, the writing was on the wall for Nancy, and he and the man who appointed him, Paul Tisdale, were sacked on Monday.
The club were left with no choice but to bring back Martin O’Neill on an interim basis for the second time this season, and his first game back will be against Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United.
Goodwin is known to O’Neill as a player, and faced Nancy as a manager – he has been speaking ahead of the game at Celtic Park.
What do you think is the main reason Wilfried Nancy couldn’t buy a win as Celtic manager? 🤔
The stats are damning…
Jim Goodwin on Celtic, Martin O’Neill and Wilfried Nancy
Goodwin and United had been on a poor run of form prior to facing Nancy’s Celtic, and the Hoops dominated the first half.
But after the break, two quick-fire goals completely knocked the Celts off-balance, resulting in Nancy’s fourth straight defeat.
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And speaking about the departed boss ahead of facing them under O’Neill, Goodwin admitted that he wasn’t surprised by the sacking.
He told The Courier: “I’ve always got sympathy for managers losing their jobs. We’re in a very difficult position, as we all know.
“But when you’re at a club like Celtic – with the resources that they have available to them and that quality of player – and lose six in eight games, I always think you’re very close to something like that happening.
“I don’t think it’s a great surprise to too many people in the game.
“I’m disappointed for him, albeit I didn’t get an opportunity to know the guy. I’m sure he’ll be hurting because he certainly didn’t carry a lot of luck in the couple of months that he was in the job.”
Goodwin’s side had remained unbeaten since facing Celtic until the Dundee Derby at the weekend, when they were beaten 1-0 at Tannadice.
They currently sit seventh in the Scottish Premiership.
Tell us your starting XI for Martin O’Neill’s first game back
Martin O’Neill’s first fixtures back at Celtic
Dundee United aren’t often winners at Celtic Park, and Saturday’s fixture will be a good time for O’Neill to get the team’s form back on track.
After that, it’s Celtic’s first league trip to Falkirk in over a decade. John McGlynn’s side have impressed this season and currently sit in the top six.
O’Neill then takes his side to Rugby Park – not to face Kilmarnock, but Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup.
At the end of January, attention will turn to Europa League ties with Bologna and Utrecht. Celtic will likely need at least four points from their remaining fixtures to avoid elimination.
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