Auchinleck manager rethinks game plan after Nancy sacking

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The Celtic Star

·16 January 2026

Auchinleck manager rethinks game plan after Nancy sacking

Tommy Sloan admits he has been forced to rethink his approach following Celtic’s decision to sack reckless, rookie manager Wilfried Nancy…

Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025 Auchinleck Talbot’s players celebrate with Kyle McAvoy 24. IMAGO Photo Andy Scott

The Auchinleck manager had watched from the stands as the Hoops edged out Livingston 4–2 last month, using the match to shape his strategy for this weekend’s Scottish Cup encounter.

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However, Nancy’s exit and the reappointment of Martin O’Neill have changed the landscape entirely, turning Sunday’s televised showdown at Rugby Park into a fresh challenge for the West of Scotland Premier Division outfit.

Dumbarton v Auchinleck Talbot , Scottish Cup Third Round at Marbill Coaches Stadium in Dumbarton on 29 November 2025. Auchinleck fans celebrate with their team. Photo IMAGO Andy Scott

Speaking to the Ayrshire Post via Daily Record, the veteran boss said: “Celtic played a back three that day but since then the manager has changed and so has the formation.”

“We’re going to be under a lot of pressure – you see what Celtic did to Dundee United on Saturday. We’ll need to be calm, not make mistakes and allow the tie to become too frantic. We’ll need to keep our discipline and pose a threat when we can.”

Sloan was at Falkirk Stadium on Wednesday night to watch O’Neill’s men grind out a 1-0 victory over the Bairns.

“Falkirk have a big astro surface similar to Killie and Celtic have struggled at Rugby Park in the past,” he said.

Auchinleck Talbot supporters have snapped up every seat available in the Frank Beattie Stand, prompting the club to release additional tickets in the Moffat Stand to meet demand.

In a special one-off initiative, competition sponsors Scottish Gas will give Rugby Park a temporary makeover designed to mirror key features of Beechwood Park, aiming to maintain a strong sense of home comfort and tradition for the Talbot faithful.

Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The transformation will see the Auchinleck section renamed in Beechwood fashion, alongside themed branding in the changing rooms and players’ tunnel, throwback-style signage at entry points for supporters, and the continuation of well-known pre-match routines.

Talbot fans attending the tie will also receive complimentary Auchinleck Talbot merchandise as part of the matchday experience.

It should be a good day all round for everyone connected with Talbot – but Celtic will just have to remain professional and do their job on the pitch. There was a general sale of the remaining Celtic tickets for the game yesterday as we reported on The Celtic Star. Please note that the Celtic allocation of just over 7000 tickets has now sold out.

So Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic is going to have much higher attendance that Kilmarnock v Celtic matches at Rugby Park, thanks to common sense on behalf of Talbot bosses and sheer madness on behalf of those running Killie who seem to prefer empty seats to as many football supporters as possible attending matches.

Celtic’s 6-0 win against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, Perth on Saturday 28 September 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The American owner of St Johnstone had one empty stand match against Celtic before binning the system, And in the first match Celtic scored six while in the second, with more Celtic supporters at the game, St Johnstone actually won the match 1-0.

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