Wilfried Nancy’s honeymoon period at Celtic is well and truly over before it ever really began.
Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden Park condemned the Frenchman to a third straight loss since taking charge, and the noise around the club has only intensified as a result. Goals from Marcus Fraser and a second-half brace by Jonah Ayunga sealed a famous night for St Mirren, cancelling out Reo Hatate’s first-half equaliser and leaving Celtic shell-shocked on the national stage.
Nancy was appointed after Martin O’Neill’s short-term return, which followed Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, but patience is already wearing dangerously thin. Celtic have now lost three games on the bounce under their new manager, 2-1 to Hearts, 3-0 to Roma, and now 3-1 to St Mirren, with the manner of the performances raising more questions than answers.
It’s Ayunga again! 🤯@saintmirrenfc lead 3-1 win and are within touching distance of the trophy now 🏁🏆#PremierSportsCup | @spfl pic.twitter.com/hXt6P2yBM1
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 14, 2025
John Hartson Blasts Celtic Decision As Wilfried Nancy Loses Third Game In Charge
The reaction from former players was swift and brutal.
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Club legend John Hartson did not hold back on social media, openly questioning the decision to move on from O’Neill at such a sensitive moment for the club.
Wished they would have done what I said when Martin came in.. give him until the final.. these last 3 results don’t occur under my old gaffer.. huge mistake considering the enormity of what’s happened .. embarrassing today.
Former striker Chris Sutton struck a more analytical tone but was no less damning, suggesting Nancy’s vision may simply not align with the current Celtic squad.
I feel for Wilfried Nancy he is trying to implement a style but his problem is he has overestimated the level of player at the club right now. To play the way he wants takes tactical intelligence and flexibility and good decision making, something this group of players lack…
The criticism cuts deep because it taps into a wider sense of dysfunction around Celtic this season. Chants of ‘sack the board’ echoed around Hampden Park, underlining that Nancy is operating in a pressure cooker created long before his arrival. Off-field unrest, supporter frustration, and uncertainty at executive level have combined to create a volatile backdrop for any new manager, let alone one attempting a clear stylistic overhaul.
There were moments against St Mirren where Celtic looked capable of imposing themselves, but Ayunga’s two second-half goals brutally exposed defensive frailties and a lack of control once momentum swung away from them.
Nancy has spoken about principles, and long-term ideas, but football rarely affords managers that luxury, especially at a club of Celtic’s size and expectation. With silverware already slipping away and faith eroding rapidly among supporters and former players alike, the scrutiny on the Frenchman will only intensify from here.
Three games. Three defeats. A cup final lost, not an ideal start.
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