Celtic identify first choice manager target as timeline set for talks and possible appointment

The 48-year-old Frenchman, currently head coach of MLS side Columbus Crew, has been identified as the club's number one choice to succeed Brendan Rodgers in the Parkhead dugout.

Nancy has won two trophies over his three seasons in charge of the Ohio outfit and steered them to the Concacaf Champions Cup final last year. He was also voted MLS Coach of the Year in 2024.

He previously coached Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston during his time at Montreal, where he was assistant to Thierry Henry before taking over as head coach. His assistant coach, Kwame Ampadu, also worked alongside current Celtic head of football operations, Paul Tisdale, at Exeter City between 2008 and 2012.

Nancy refused to discuss the links with Celtic earlier this week after his side's season-ending defeat to Cincinnati in the MLS play-offs. “I’m not here to talk about myself," he said. “I’m here to talk about the team. I have nothing to say about any kind of reports.” Columbus general manager Issa Tull also insisted Nancy was under contract and "locked in" for the 2026 MLS campaign.

However, according to reports, Nancy has been granted permission to speak to Celtic, who hope to secure an appointment in time for the trip to St Mirren on November 22. Celtic must also negotiate a compensation package with Columbus Crew, with a figure of between £1-2million quoted.

Martin O'Neill has been in caretaker charge of the Scottish champions for the last four games since Rodgers resigned two and a half weeks ago. The 73-year-old admitted he has no idea whether he will remain at the helm after the international break.

“The short and honest answer is I genuinely do not know,” the Northern Irishman told BBC Radio Ulster.

“I am not party to anything that is happening with the board talking to prospective clients and things like this, nor do I want to be because that’s never been a remit of mine.

“The gentlemen involved can very easily make up their own minds about people without me interfering in any aspect. I said that I would do it until they found that replacement.

“And is that possible for next week? I genuinely do not know. My job was to come in and hold the fort, and the minute that someone is appointed, I will step aside.

“And if it was tomorrow, I would gladly step aside. It’s not a problem. It’s nothing to do with any sort of ego or anything like that. It’s just to help out in the very, very short term.”

In his four matches, O’Neill – assisted by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham – has overseen two Premiership victories, a Europa League defeat by Midtjylland and an extra-time win over 10-man Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

The final against St Mirren takes place on December 14 and there are some who would like to see the veteran remain in charge for the Hampden showdown in order to add to his trophy haul from his glittering first spell in charge in the early Noughties.

“That really doesn’t matter,” said O’Neill, dismissing any notion that sentimentality should come into play. “I am a romantic and have been a romantic all my life. I know the history of football and all of those particular things but that doesn’t bother me one jot.”