Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has pledged his full backing to new manager Wilfried Nancy, promising to support the Frenchman’s long-term vision both on and off the pitch.
In a rare interview with the club’s in-house media, Nicholson assured supporters that Celtic’s leadership is united behind Wilfried Nancy as he begins his tenure in Glasgow. The chief executive visited Lennoxtown on Thursday to officially welcome the 48-year-old and give him a tour of the club’s training complex. Nancy then led his first training session with the squad earlier this morning ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash with Hearts — his first match in charge.
Nicholson emphasised that Celtic are committed to helping their new boss succeed, particularly when it comes to player recruitment.
“We want to develop the club and we want to perform,” he said. “And in order to do that, we’re all going to get behind Wilfried from today — in the coming days, weeks and months — and especially in the transfer windows ahead, both in January and into the summer. We’ll do everything we can to support Wilfried Nancy and his team to deliver success for our supporters.”
His remarks underline the club’s focus on strategic player investment and sustained progress under Nancy’s leadership.
Nicholson revealed that Wilfried Nancy was Celtic’s number one target following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation and praised the club’s efforts to secure his services despite strong resistance from Columbus Crew, his former employers.
“The club he was with were very keen to keep him,” Nicholson said. “So we were delighted to complete the process and bring him here. We wanted him started as quickly as possible, and we saw that this morning — straight into the football, fully focused on Sunday’s big game.”
The Celtic chief also highlighted why Wilfried Nancy stood out as the ideal candidate.
“We’ve been aware of Wilfried for a long time,” Nicholson added. “He’s humble, full of integrity, and has a real passion for the game. His style of football — aggressive, attacking, and exciting — is exactly what we want to see at Celtic. His enthusiasm for the club and desire to get going have been clear from the start.”
Nicholson concluded by reaffirming Celtic’s shared ambition: developing players, maintaining high standards, and ensuring continued success for supporters both domestically and in Europe.
