The Celtic superfan couldn’t hide his delight over Wilfried Nancy’s departure and said he “didn’t care” whether the Frenchman was left or was fired.
Rod Stewart has reacted with delight to the sacking of Wilfried Nancy from Celtic. The music legend and Hoops fan took to social media less than an hour after it was confirmed the club were parting ways with the Frenchman.
Celtic announced on Monday afternoon Nancy’s contract had been terminated with immediate effect after just eight games with the Glasgow club. The team lost 3-1 to rivals Rangers in Saturday’s Old Firm derby, making it six losses out of eight.
Standing on the doorstep of his home dressed in a red polo neck and winter coat, Rod issued a scathing goodbye to the former MLS coach, saying he “didn’t care” whether he left or was fired, and pleaded for Martin O’Neill’s return.
In the Instagram video, the Maggie May singer shouted: “He’s gone! he is gone! Wilfried Nancy has been fired or he’s left, I don’t care, he’s just not at Celtic. Now, we’ve got Dundee at the weekend, I’m going to be up there for this game, don’t you worry.”
Turning his attention to Nancy’s replacement, the 80-year-old continued: “We need Martin [O’Neill] back. We need you back, Martin O’Neill. Just get us through the end of this season and maybe we can get Robbie Keane.
“That would be heaven sent,” he said, before comically adding: “Now, I’m going down the pub to celebrate.”
It comes just days after Rod admitted Nancy – who was drafted in just over a month ago following the controversial departure of Brendan Rodgers – was breaking his heart after a string of poor performances. Rod had watched in agony as the toiling champions were pummelled by Motherwell at Fir Park last week – blowing the chance to move level on points with league leaders Hearts.
Rock icon Rod branded the 2-0 defeat a “humiliation” as he took to Instagram to vent his frustrations.
Filming from inside his Celtic decorated gym, he said: “I didn’t sleep last night, and I’ll tell you why. We were beaten – Celtic, that is, and I love the Celtic, as you can see – by a very, very good Motherwell team who play, in my opinion, very modern, advanced football.
“They just kept attacking and attacking, and it was made easy by our backline that didn’t seem to exist. We were humiliated – really humiliated. Now, where is this all going to end?
“Is Nancy going to go? Is he going to be sacked, like Russell Martin, maybe? Or is he going to continue, and we’re going to keep losing? It looks like this guy’s going to continue, so it breaks my heart. Should we give him a chance in January? I don’t know, but it looks like he’s going to stay.”
Despite his dismay, Rod was one of several famous faces to turn up at Celtic Park on January 3 for the Gers showdown in which three goals from Youssef Chermiti and Mikey Moore destroy Celtic’s half team lead.
Paul Tisdale has also left his position as Head of Football Operations, the club said. No interim manager has yet been appointed, with bosses saying a further update “will be provided to supporters as soon as is practical”.
