Crew’s Compensation – Celtic’s ambition and desire could be tested again

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The Celtic Star

·14 November 2025

Crew’s Compensation – Celtic’s ambition and desire could be tested again

Brendan Rodgers was preparing for Celtic’s next game against Falkirk which was just a coupe of days away when Dermot Desmond’s axe fell and as a result it was Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney in the Celtic dugout at Celtic Park to handle the side against John McGlynn’s visitors.

Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney celebrate Celtic’s opening goal during the Premier League match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

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So things can change quickly in football and that’s the same all over the world including in United States. So the headlines being created by Columbus Crew’s General Manager Issa Tall that Celtic can forget all about bringing in Wilfried Nancy because he’s busy preparing for the 2026 MLS campaign are clearly nonsense .

IF Celtic do want Nancy as our next manager and the Frenchman wants the job then it’s going to be a matter of agreeing the required level of compensation to make the deal happen. Money, not a fixture list in the distance will determine whether the deal can get done or not, IF that’s the choice the Celtic powerbrokers, led by Dermot Desmond, make.

Columbus Crew’s General Manager Issa Tall (L) and Head Coach Wilfried Nancy (R) speak to the media

“Wilfried is under contract. We’re in deep discussions about expanding the squad for next year, developing preseason plans, all that good stuff,” Issa Tall stated.

Pressed on whether he could categorically rule out a departure for Nancy in the US offseason, Tall added: “What’s the future going to bring? … You never know. You have to be prepared for anything, but the way things are going, he’s under contract.”

Brendan Rodgers arrives as new manager of Leicester City in February 2019. Photo Leicester City FC

It is understood that Nancy is contracted to Columbus Crew for another two seasons, taking him through to 2027. While Celtic has received large sums in compensation from the likes of Leicester City in 2019 when Brendan Rodgers left the first time, with Celtic collecting around £7.5m from that one, it’s hard to imagine Celtic forking out multi-millions to secure what would have to be regarded as a left-field, rookie manager.

Much of course will depend on Nancy’s contractual terms which, if relevant amid ongoing speculation, Celtic will be well aware of and the lowballing will begin.

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy celebrates with his team following an MLS soccer match against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on July 12, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)

Nancy, speaking at yesterday media conference when asked about the Celtic job said: “I’m not here to talk about myself. I’m here to talk about the team. I have nothing to say about any kind of reports.”

Until a deal is done Nancy obviously has to watch what he says about any links to another job, but those remarks clearly don’t amount to a denial. So as is often the case in football, it’s going to come down to the money as Celtic’s ambition, and desire to get the man that they want, comes under scrutiny in a year when each time that has happened they have been found wanting.

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