The Frenchman has got off to a nightmare start in Glasgow’s east end but has the support of the former striker

21:05, 15 Dec 2025Updated 21:55, 15 Dec 2025

Content cannot be displayed without consent

Chris Sutton admits he disagrees with some “sensible Celtic people” who have told him they want Wilfried Nancy axed after just three games. But he admits the risk of the fans turning could impact the future of the boss.

It has been a nightmare three-game losing streak for the Frenchman since taking over at Celtic Park. Hearts stretched their lead at the top of the table with a win in Glasgow’s east end, before Roma demolished the Hoops in the Europa League at Celtic Park.

The Scottish champions would then be seen off at Hampden by St Mirren as Stephen Robinson’s side claimed the Premier Sports Cup. The dismal run comes after Parkhead icon Martin O’Neill won seven out of the eight games after he was brought back to following Brendan Rodgers‘ surprise resignation.

Pressure is already cranking up on the former Columbus Crew boss, but former Celtic striker Sutton reckons Nancy deserves time to get it right with Dundee United next up on Wednesday night. He told the BBC’s Monday Night Club: “Wilfried Nancy has gone in and his first three games were always going to be difficult.

“In many ways, Martin O’Neill half killed him winning seven out of eight. It’s such a remarkable job that Martin did, and in many of those games in those interviews after the games he was saying ‘it’s all about winning’ – in many ways he is right. It did surprise me that Martin said the conversation they had was only for 15 minutes.

“I can’t believe in many ways Wilfried Nancy has picked his brains more. But, he has come in from Columbus Crew and he wants to implement his own way of playing, and he has done immediately. I don’t think that’s a particularly easy thing to do – and it certainly hasn’t been.

“With Hearts, who are well organised – that was quite a close game – and then get walloped by Roma; I don’t care if Brendan Rodgers or Martin O’Neill was in charge of that Celtic team, Roma were a different level. It felt like the final against St Mirren was really big.

Wilfried Nancy

“For a St Mirren team to dominate Celtic in the way they did, that’s a problem for Wilfried Nancy. There is a large part of the Celtic fan base, and I can’t put a figure on it, but a lot of sensible minded Celtic people that I know are saying ‘enough is enough, you need to make the change now’.

“I am only telling you what a lot of sensible people are saying – I find that remarkable. I don’t think it’s fair. i think the guy needs a window, and he needs time.”

Record Sport columnist Sutton insisted that he believes the 48-year-old should be given time to implement his 3-4-3 formation – but noted the dismal 122-day tenure of Russell Martin at Rangers shows how quickly things can go wrong without supporters on your side.

The former striker said: “You only need to look at Russell Martin, and that was a short space of time, and there are people who think he should have been given longer. Three games, look, if it was me I wouldn’t have changed (the tactics).

“I would have slowly drip-feed it to players and maybe made a change. It must have been part of the talks that he has said ‘I am going to come in and do it my way’. In many ways, it was a massive gamble and it hasn’t paid off.

“He needs to win against Dundee United, people shouldn’t be sacked after three games, four games, five games – but what always goes against Celtic and Rangers managers is when fans turn in their numbers, when the whole stadium is against the appointment, it’s the end.”