GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 17: Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond, and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson (L-R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park, on May 17, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
After being backed in to heavy odds on favourite to become the next Celtic manager bookmakers are easing back the odds on Wilfried Nancy.
Some bookies suspended taking bets on the Columbus Crew manager but that basically reflects how volatile the market is.
This morning you can get even money on Nancy taking charge at Celtic. For every fiver that Dave Murray puts on he’ll get a total of £10 back if Celtic appoint the 48-year-old Frenchman as boss.
Well into the third week since Brendan Rodgers resigned there is precious little in the way of news about his successor.
Sky Sports News tried to create a stir with a story about meetings in London. That highlighted the complete lack of news. There was no mention of who was interviewed and who was asking the questions.
The market at 8am Friday November 14
With Nancy holding a media conference on Thursday it is highly unlikely that he made a quick dash to London for the low down on how Dermot Desmond allows Celtic to be run.
It seems that a former Exeter City manager is all powerful in terms of recruitment.
TISDALE FACTOR
Once targets are identified Michael Nicholson gets down to negotiating the terms of a move then waits on replies from directors over whether he can conclude the deal.
Anyone credible on the management circuit will have put in their homework. They might have given Rodgers a phone call for confirmation about how the silent CEO operates.
In work managers are unlikely to switch to the Celtic set up in mid-season. Out of work managers don’t seem to be putting their name into the proverbial hat.
MARTIN O’NEILL
A week today Celtic hold their AGM. Increasingly it looks like Martin O’Neill will be in place as a deflection tool.
A few jokes about his age will amuse most of the audience alongside a reference or two to his victory in the League Cup Final.
Celtic’s depleted squad faces 10 matches from November 22 to December 30.
When the transfer window opens Sebastian Tounekti, Kelechi Iheanacho and Michel-Ange Balikwisha could be on duty at the African Nations Cup.
Who will be managing Celtic is impossible to tell other than they’ll have passed the Desmond test- with transfer policy dictated to by Paul Tisdale.
Off piste here, but didnt scales have a blinder go the republic! What a night
Talking of bookies …why are theRangers still allowed not to promote William Hill as Scottish football’s main sponsor on any advertising board by the authorities? It’s the Cinch scenario all over again ! Something stinks …it’s putrid and looks very much like to me that the tribute act can pick and choose whichever ‘ name or sponsor ‘ to promote at all times without fear of sanction ?
Approaching the transfer window last January,
BR wanted ‘quality’ players added to the squad.
He lost Kyogo, who wasn’t replaced.
During the summer window, BR’s squad was further weakened.
Approaching this January’s transfer window,
we don’t even have a permanent manager.
This window could be the worst yet – and could seriously impact retaining the SPL title.
Desmond, the guy who gave a multi £ million contract to an Irish friend who was never gonna play for us, and never really did. Nice wee retirement nest egg, from the Desmond piggy bank, called Celtic FC.
So, they pile in their laundry money onto a bet to bring the odds down. Then it becomes a reasonadle chance for the casual punter. In goes a couple nice pounds. Then
“The Book Is Closed, The Book Is Closed!”
They’ve got their cupla quids.
Celtic appoint Ballamey. The world moves on!
Willie Hill lights up another Cuban Magnum!
Risk appointment – Hope the bookies are correct !