Wilfried Nancy to Celtic is not guaranteed says Hugh Keevins as Ange Postecoglou stance was ‘clear’

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Celtic’s search for a manager has reportedly left them at the door of Columbus Crew.

Wilfried Nancy, 2024’s MLS Coach of the Year, is widely being reported as Dermot Desmond’s main man for the job, and is reportedly in talks to take over as soon as possible.

It’s almost three weeks since the news of Brendan Rodgers’ sudden resignation came from nowhere after zero inclination from the Hoops boss that he was looking to leave.

Club legend Martin O’Neill was his interim replacement, and has made a commendable contribution alongside Shaun Maloney over the last three weeks – but it now looks to be Nancy o’clock.

Or does it? Hugh Keevins has a word of warning for Celtic fans, given how things unfolded across the city in another recent managerial search.

Hugh Keevins on Celtic’s move for Wilfried Nancy

Nancy was reportedly Desmond’s man from day one, given his pre-existing relationship with Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale.

But the initial favourite for the role was Ange Postecoglou.

READ MORE: Celtic believe Wilfried Nancy will ‘accept their transfer policies’ as manager

‘Big Ange’ is still adored by many in Glasgow, and has had a whirlwind of a year, being sacked from two Premier League jobs in very different circumstances.

It appeared, however, that he was never a serious option for a Parkhead return, as Keevins discussed on Clyde Superscoreboard.

He said: “Statistically speaking, [Nancy] is not the cheap option, because they’ll be required to pay Columbus Crew millions of pounds.

“I do understand that [Celtic fans] will say that ‘this is a shot in the dark’, but he has the faith of the Celtic hierarchy, who have approached Columbus Crew for permission to speak to him.

“We now have to see if getting permission to speak to him and getting him to take the job are one and the same thing, because I’ll say four words: Steven Gerrard, Kevin Muscat.

“But Ange Postecoglou will always have the affection of the Celtic fans, but he clearly was not on the radar, or had informed Celtic that now was not the time

“Otherwise, Ange Postecoglou would be sitting at Lennoxtown just now, preparing for St Mirren a week tomorrow.

“So the man is Wilfried Nancy, and it is up to the Celtic hierarchy to get the man over to Scotland.”

Other managerial candidates to be linked with Celtic

Kjetil Knutsen was reportedly of interest to the Hoops, but the Norwegian is notoriously difficult to tempt away from Bodo/Glimt.

The Celts likely ran into the same issues with Kieran McKenna, who is on a lucrative long-term contract at Ipswich Town.

Craig Bellamy was also unavailable given his commitments to Wales’ push to qualify for next year’s World Cup, but you could absolutely see him managing Celtic one day.

Robbie Keane, Efrain Juarez and Lee Carsley were among the other names banded about.