“Michael Nicholson cannot be the CEO when the next window opens,” Celtic Fans Collective | OneFootball

“Michael Nicholson cannot be the CEO when the next window opens,” Celtic Fans Collective…

Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 10, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Celtic Fans Collective has reacted to the concerning comments from Celtic’s interim manager Martin O’Neill yesterday afternoon as he explained the actual situation regarding the club’s recruitment plans and confirmed that he has already rejected a few (project) options that have bene put to him since returning to re-take the reins following the disastrous 33-day reign of rookie boss Wilfried Nancy.

A reminder of what Michael Nicholson had to say about Nancy before the Frenchman started losing games, six out of eight with only wins against Aberdeen and Livingston (probably the worst two teams in the league) to show for his terrible time as Celtic manager.

Despondent Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy . Motherwell v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. 30 December 2025 Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Responding to Martin O’Neill’s insight yesterday where he admitted that Celtic were basically behind both Hearts and theRangers, the two sides currently above Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, in terms of getting signings in during the January window.

Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson and Celtic Chief Financial Officer Chris Mackay in the directors box. Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 07 December 2025. IMAGO photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

Michael Nicholson of course had a dreadful summer transfer window which was ultimately the catalyst for the formation of the Celtic Fans Collective, so it would have been reasonable to expect that work would have started immediately after the summer window closed to rectify the mistakes made and to fill the gaps in the squad at the earliest possible moment at the start of January.

Instead Nicholson and his boardroom colleagues set about removing Brendan Rodgers from the club – basically because he was not prepared to tow the party line regarding signing projects instead of first team ready players and in doing so hoard as much cash as possible.

Chris McKay and Paul Tisdale, Motherwell v Celtic, Scottish Premiership. 30 December 2025 Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

They replaced Rodgers with Martin O’Neill but through Paul Tisdale they identified a manger who would be a better fit to operate under their business model of cheap project signings such as the two arrivals from Japan in the summer. Nancy was offered the job despite being nowhere near qualified to manage a club like Celtic but while that was bad enough, the Celtic CEO then brought the rookie Frenchman in ahead of a series of huge games – all of which Nancy lost.

A table topping chance to leap frog Hearts at Celtic Park, a vital home Europa League match against Roma and a cup final against St Mirren were all lost before Nancy made it four defeats in a row by losing to Dundee United at Tannadice. His two wins followed against Aberdeen and Livingston before humiliating defeats at Motherwell and against theRangers at Celtic Park.

Celtic Director Brian Wilson with CEO Michael Nicholson at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The media were then briefed that it was Michael Nicholson who was the driving force behind the sacking of his first choice pick for the job. To date we have no evidence that they interviewed or even considered anyone else for the job. It’s telling too that Tisdale was also sacked at the same time as Tisdale, an indication that any transfer window preparations would have to be ripped up with the window January already open.

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill in dugout with Celtic interim assistant manager Shaun Maloney and Celtic assistant coach Gavin Strachan. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

During Nancy’s time as Celtic manager, Shaun Maloney was tasked with working alongside Tisdale in the recruitment side of things and will have briefed Martin O’Neill fully when the pair had to step in for a second stint this season.

Nicholson incidentally deserves zero credit for sacking Nancy and Tisdale but has to be held accountable for his role in their appointments and decisions taken as a result of their backing of the so-called Football Doctor who has left Celtic’s season in intensive care.

This morning The Celtic Fans Collective had this to say following the revelations from Martin O’Neill yesterday afternoon.

https://twitter.com/CFC_Collective/status/2011367069871485267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Hard to argue with a word that the Celtic Fans Collective has to say here. What a shambles Celtic is in caused by our self proclaimed world class CEO. You’re out of people to blame or ban. It’s time to go Michael. Do the honourable thing…

https://twitter.com/GazzettaCeltic/status/2011120675801420262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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