Wilfred Nancy Hits Out at Celtic Board Over Forced Squad Decisions, Accusing Them of Undermining His Authority After Repeated Setbacks

Wilfred Nancy has escalated his public confrontation with the Celtic board, accusing the club’s hierarchy of forcing squad decisions upon him and warning that the continued erosion of his authority is directly contributing to Celtic’s recent run of damaging results.

Speaking after another costly setback that deepened concern over the team’s direction, the Celtic manager delivered his strongest comments yet since taking charge, lifting the lid on what he described as a growing disconnect between the technical staff and the boardroom.

“You cannot be responsible for results if you are not allowed to make the decisions,” Nancy said. “When players are imposed on you, football will always expose it. The truth comes out on the pitch.”

The remarks mark a significant turning point in Nancy’s tenure and underline mounting internal tensions at a club already under pressure from inconsistent performances domestically and in Europe. While the manager initially avoided naming individuals, sources close to Celtic say the dispute centres on players he believes do not fit his tactical model but have nonetheless been pushed into prominent roles.

Midfielder Paulo Bernardo, winger Yang Hyun-jun, and defender Gustaf Lagerbielke are understood to be at the heart of the disagreement. All three have featured in key matches during a difficult period, despite Nancy privately raising concerns about balance, intensity and positional discipline within his system.

Celtic’s recent displays have reflected those issues. The midfield has frequently struggled to control transitions, while defensive units have appeared disjointed under pressure. For Nancy, these are not isolated problems but symptoms of a wider structural issue.

“At this level, alignment is everything,” he said. “If the vision of the coach does not match the vision of the people making decisions above him, the team will suffer. That is what we are seeing now.”

Nancy has consistently highlighted Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, and Cameron Carter-Vickers as the profile of players he wants to build around  footballers capable of executing a high-intensity, positional game under pressure. However, financial realities and board-led recruitment decisions are believed to have limited his influence during the transfer window.

The continued use of Bernardo alongside O’Riley has drawn criticism from supporters and pundits alike, with opponents repeatedly exploiting space in midfield. Yang’s selection in high-stakes matches has also been questioned, with the winger struggling for consistency in both attack and defensive tracking. Lagerbielke, meanwhile, has endured difficult outings in defence, raising doubts about whether he was ready for the responsibility placed upon him.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton described Nancy’s comments as “a major warning sign” while speaking on BBC Radio Scotland. “Managers don’t speak like this unless they feel they’ve lost control,” Sutton said. “This is a coach effectively saying: don’t judge me for decisions I didn’t make.”

Celtic’s board has so far declined to engage directly with the accusations. A brief club statement reiterated that recruitment and squad planning are “collaborative processes carried out in the best interests of Celtic Football Club.” Privately, however, there is growing acknowledgement that the relationship between manager and hierarchy has become strained.

Among supporters, reaction has been sharply divided. Some have rallied behind Nancy, viewing his stance as a necessary challenge to boardroom interference. Others fear that such a public breakdown risks destabilising a squad already short on confidence, particularly with a demanding fixture list ahead.

Nancy rejected any suggestion that his comments were an attempt to deflect blame. “I accept responsibility for results  always,” he said. “But responsibility without authority is meaningless. If you want progress, the manager must be trusted, not managed.”

With the January transfer window approaching, pressure is now mounting on Celtic’s leadership to clarify who truly controls football decisions at the club. Failure to resolve the power struggle could have serious consequences, not just for the remainder of the season, but for Nancy’s long-term future in Glasgow.

For the first time since his appointment, Wilfred Nancy has drawn a clear line in public. Whether the Celtic board chooses to restore his authority or continue on the current path may determine whether this confrontation becomes a turning point  or the beginning of an irreversible breakdown at one of Scotland’s biggest clubs.