The number of Celtic managers to have been dismissed is relatively small, with names such as John Barnes, Wilfried Nancy, Lou Macari, Tony Mowbray, Billy McNeill and Tommy Burns forming a short and unhappy list.
However, no Celtic boss has been removed in quite the same way as Nancy. His reign lasted just 33 days and ended after six defeats in eight matches, with his final game a home loss to Rangers. Martin O’Neill was swiftly brought back to take charge on an interim basis.
John Barnes, who experienced one of the most turbulent exits in the club’s history, has spoken out in sympathy with Nancy. Barnes was sacked in 2000 following a shock Scottish Cup defeat at home to part-time Inverness, a period marked by player unrest and severe fan backlash only months after Celtic had halted Rangers’ title run.
Drawing on his own experience, Barnes suggested Nancy’s fate reflects a wider issue in modern football. Speaking to the Daily Record, he said managers are rarely given the time needed to build, even when initially backed by the club.
Barnes pointed out that it is common to see new appointments dismissed within weeks if early results do not go their way. He believes this pressure is particularly intense at clubs like Celtic, where expectations are immediate and unforgiving.
According to Barnes, a manager without a proven record is especially vulnerable if results do not arrive quickly. Early wins can earn patience and trust, but poor starts often confirm doubts among supporters. By contrast, managers with established success are usually afforded more breathing room.
He added that he had expected Celtic to go on and win the league before the internal discord set in. Even with O’Neill returning on a short-term basis, Barnes feels the situation remains challenging, as players are aware the arrangement may not last.
Despite that, Barnes still considers Celtic among the favourites, although he admitted the title race is no longer straightforward.
Nancy’s short spell at Celtic quickly unravelled. After O’Neill’s positive interim run, his successor endured a brutal opening week that included defeats to Hearts, Roma and St Mirren. A narrow loss to Dundee United intensified fan anger, with calls for his dismissal growing louder.
Victories over Aberdeen and Livingston briefly steadied the ship and hinted at progress, but consecutive losses to Motherwell and Rangers proved decisive, bringing his time at the club to an abrupt end.