The Frenchman is set to be appointed as Parkhead boss next week

11:22, 26 Nov 2025Updated 11:54, 26 Nov 2025

(Image: Getty Images)

Wilfried Nancy once booted his own club’s owner out of his dressing room when he stormed down to confront the then-Montreal manager after a defeat.

The French coach is set to be appointed the new Celtic boss imminently and looks set to be in charge from next week. Celtic are in the middle of an ugly stand-off between their fans and the Parkhead board, which culminated in their AGM being abandoned following chaotic scenes last week.

Former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers left last month and was eviscerated in an astonishing attack by majority shareholder Dermot Desmond. But Nancy is no stranger to confrontation with the hierarchy of clubs and was once involved in an infamous incident three years ago after Montreal crashed to a shock defeat to Sporting Kansas City in the MLS.

The club’s Italian owner, Joey Saputo, was so incensed by the defeat and the display of goalkeeper Sebastian Breza that he stormed down to the dressing room to remonstrate with Nancy and his players.

Wilfried Nancy

However, it was reported by witnesses to the incident that Nancy point blank refused to allow the owner to enter the dressing room and threatened to quit on the spot if he came in.

Sputo then loudly complained in public to the club’s president, Gabriel Gervais, that Nancy disrespected him. Nancy did limp on in his role for another few months before leaving for Columbus Crew and immediately replaced the keeper with colleague James Pantemis for their next game. But he was unrepentant when later quizzed about the incident.

Nancy said: “The fact that we lost to a team that’s in last place must have irritated the owner. For my part, I’ve been with the club for a long time and I’ve seen a lot of things. Everyone runs their company as they see fit.

READ MORE: Big Jock: The Legacy of Jock Stein – Celtic’s Greatest Ever Manager

“I have no problem with that. However, I have values that I will never compromise on.”

And the club’s president Gervais admitted the incident played a part in his eventual departure. He said: “If there’s a difference between two individuals….you can discuss. There has to be a will to go forward and fix things.

“But it was clear on Wilfried’s side that there wasn’t that will. Our owner did reach out, but there was nothing we could do to progress on this matter. That’s how it stood.”