Chris Sutton offers Celtic board Wilfried Nancy transfer window ultimatum ahead of Rangers showdown
The former Celtic striker believes his old club may be forced to make a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction.
Ahead of their mammoth fixture with Rangers this Saturday, Chris Sutton thinks the Celtic board need to make a decision fast on their new manager’s future.
Since joining from Columbus Crew last month, Wilfried Nancy has lost five out of seven matches, with his only two victories coming against 10-man Aberdeen and bottom of the table Livingston. Despite only being in the door less than four weeks, the pressure is already building on the Frenchman. The Hoops’ disappointing run of results have allowed their bitter rivals to get back within touching distance of them as Rangers now sit just three points and could draw level with a win in Saturday’s Old Firm.
As the January transfer window opens, Nancy now his the chance to find players to fit his unique footballing philosophy. Celtic have already been linked with Bournemouth right back, Julian Araujo, who arrived in Glasgow on Friday morning. They also have shown interest in Ivorian striker Jocelin Ta Bi. Former Hoops marksman, Sutton says it’s now ‘make or break’ for the Celtic board to make a decision on Nancy, otherwise the transfer window could turn into a disaster.
‘He’s attempting to play fantasy football’
Sutton told the Daily Record: “the Celtic board need to keep this one very simple because there’s only one question to consider. Do Celtic stand the best chance of winning the Premiership with Nancy at the helm? Based on what we have seen, the answer to that is a resounding no. Nancy is attempting to play fantasy football with a squad who can’t do it. Well, this is the real world.”
“Forget the Rangers game being make-or-break for him. This situation is far, far bigger than just one match, even if it’s the biggest of the lot. But, if Celtic choose to keep him and take a long-term approach, he needs five or six new faces now. Not at the end of the month.
“Now. Listen, I don’t like being knee-jerk with things, but if he stays and that doesn’t happen, I think Celtic are screwed. January was always going to be big and the club needs decisive action after a period of jumbled thinking and knock-on effects. It really is an easy choice.”
Sutton offers Celtic board Nancy ultimatum
He continued: “I actually don’t blame Nancy for this current melee. I blame those responsible for bringing him in, the ones who overestimated the quality of the player that Celtic have. Maybe Nancy has also underestimated the Scottish game, but I think the decision-makers must carry the can for it.
“If this was always going to be Nancy’s way, whether it was Paul Tisdale or whoever, they must have known he was going to do this. A bit like Ruben Amorim who outlined his plan before he arrived at Manchester United and wasn’t going to budge. So it’s on them.
“The club has to think about the way forward. Like I said, I’m all for the greater good and patience. But the facts are staring the hierarchy and the fans in the face. It’s not working. So give Nancy the tools to make it work. Or just put him out of misery.”