It was a case of after you at Manchester United and Celtic on Monday.
At first, Manchester United grabbed the headlines when they sacked Ruben Amorim after he expressed his discontent with those higher up in a press conference.
Hours later, Celtic followed suit by sacking Wilfried Nancy after 33 days in charge, in which he lost six out of eight matches.
Even before these sackings, the individuals in these boardrooms were under major scrutiny from their supporters, and now there is an even bigger spotlight on them, as Simon Jordan isn’t liking what he is seeing.
- READ MORE: Gordon Duncan on what someone ‘very close’ to Martin O’Neill told him about Wilfried Nancy at Celtic
The first thing I would do if I was on the Celtic board is – – – –
Simon Jordan on ‘bluffers’ in Celtic boardroom after Wilfried Nancy’s sacking
Peter Lawwell left his role at Celtic in December, and it was a welcome move given the continued protests at Celtic from the fans towards the board.
Then Paul Tisdale followed suit after Nancy was booted out, as Jordan questioned on talkSPORT, who on earth is making these calls to appoint these managers, and then getting them horribly wrong.
Jordan had previously labelled Nancy a ‘fool’ following his nightmare reign at Celtic, but only weeks earlier, Michael Nicholson was backing him.
The former Crystal Palace owner agreed that Nicholson is also a ‘fool’ for his actions, as he questioned the ‘so-called leaders’ in these boardrooms.
Jim White: “If we are talking about fools, what about the chief executive?”
Jordan: “To some extent, yeah – but what is it these guys, these so-called leaders inside football clubs. I know people will say, ‘You lost money at football clubs, and you ended up in a position you didn’t want to be in.’ Okay, fair enough. I would take that.
“But the fact of the matter is, what are these guys doing? What are they looking at when they are making these decisions?
“We are talking about boardrooms that are experienced, and the devolving authority to so-called football operators. The big thing about boardrooms and commercial people who come into football. It’s about who you listen to.
“People will think it’s an idiot who is running around with his bag of money, making decisions. No, you pick people who you listen to. If you don’t pick the right people, you get the bluffers who tell you that these guys can do a job.
“All of a sudden, you are devolving authority to people who are supposedly football intellects. They aren’t. They are bluffers, and the industry is beset with them.”
What message would you send Wilfried Nancy as Celtic sack the manager?
Comparing the boards at Celtic and Manchester United
Even though the Glazers’ name is still printed on the door of Manchester United, and to the supporters’ disgust.
INEOS, who have a share in the English club, are playing a key role at Old Trafford after joining the club in 2023 under Jim Ratcliffe’s name.
Jordan compared the two boardrooms in Glasgow and Manchester, and explained how Celtic have ‘experienced operators’ at the top level, and INEOS are still trying to work their way through.
White: “We saw what happened with Amorim and Manchester United. They got together behind the scenes, ‘he has to go.’
“In a theme of poor decision-making of those in the boardroom, because that’s what it is south of the border. Why do successful people in business struggle to translate successful decision-making when they land in football?”
Jordan: “First and foremost, you have to look at Celtic and Manchester United in two different compartments.
“If INEOS and Jim Ratcliffe are newbies to Manchester United and the football world. The board at Celtic are not. These are experienced operators.
“Dermot Desmond has been there for 25 years. He knows what a manager looks like. He has employed plenty of them. Ultimately, he has devolved other people.
“Whether the former manager of Exeter is the right person to be making decisions for Celtic, I don’t know. For me, probably not.
“You look at Manchester United, INEOS is a different dynamic. They have made decisions based upon bringing in expertise they think is the right expertise for the football club – and finding they aren’t the perfect fit.”
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