MARTIN O'NEAL RETURNS TO CELTIC AGAIN POST WILFRIED NANCY SACKING AS IRISHMAN 'HONOURED'

The Irishman handed over the reins at Parkhead to Nancy just last month after his interim spell

Martin O'Neill(Image: SNS Group)

Legend Martin O'Neill has made another sensational return to Celtic – after being named manager until the end of the season following Wilfried Nancy's sacking.

On another dramatic day in Glasgow’s East End, Irishman O’Neill is back in charge of the Scottish champions – just 33 days after departing to allow Nancy to take over.

Celtic are enduring a chaotic campaign with Nancy's tenure brought to a dramatic and sudden end after just eight games in charge. He suffered nightmare defeats to table-topping Hearts, St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final and Rangers on Sunday as he managed just two wins in his tumultuous tenure.

When O'Neill left the club after his interim tenure back in the Celtic dugout in early December, the club were level on points with the Jambos while boasting a game in hand. Now, they trail Derek McInnes' men by six points and have allowed the Light Blues to move level on points with the Hoops in second.

But Parkhead icon O’Neill has now quickly been brought back for a third time just hours after the Frenchman was shown the door. The Irishman will be supported by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as assistants, as well as Stephen McManus, who will join existing coaches, Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Greg Wallace.

The returning gaffer said: “I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again and I am looking forward to getting back to work again with the players.

“I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried and I personally want to wish him good luck with everything he does in the game.

"He is a fine man and I am sure he will go on and achieve success again, I have no doubt of that.

“For me, I've been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us.

“We still have a lot to look forward to and a lot to try and achieve, and myself, Shaun and the coaching staff and, of course, the players will be giving everything to achieve all the success we can for the club.”

- Mark Pirie

WILFRED NANCY SACKED AS CELTIC MANAGER AFTER OLD FARM DEFEAT

Celtic announced Nancy's departure after only eight games in charge on Monday afternoon.

Wilfried Nancy has been sacked as Celtic manager following a 3-1 defeat to Rangers.

Nancy was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor from MLS side Columbus Crew on December 3, after the 52-year-old tendered his resignation in October.

The Frenchman took over after club legend Martin O’Neill had won seven out of eight matches as interim manager.

However, following a 3-1 defeat by Old Firm rivals Rangers at Celtic Park on Saturday, Celtic announced Nancy had been removed from his role on Monday after only eight games in charge.

In the statement, the club also confirmed that Paul Tisdale has left his role as head of football operations.

Paul Tisdale has also left his role as Head of Football Operations at Celtic.

The defending Premiership champions announced the exits in a statement on the club’s website, where they said: “Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy, with immediate effect.

“The Club thanks Wilfried for his efforts and wishes him and his family well for the future.

“Wilfried’s assistants, Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier, will also be leaving the club and they take with them our good wishes.

“The Club can also confirm that Paul Tisdale has left his position as head of football operations. We thank Paul for the contribution he has made in that role.

“A further update will be provided to supporters as soon as is practical.”

Celtic fans protested outside Parkhead following Saturday’s defeat to Rangers.

Nancy became the first Celtic manager to lose his first two games in charge, losing 2-1 to league leaders Hearts before a comprehensive defeat to Roma at Celtic Park in the Europa League.

He lost out on a chance to win some early silverware after suffering a 3-1 defeat by St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final.

A 2-1 defeat at Dundee United handed him the unwanted title of the worst start by any Celtic manager in history.

Nancy got his first win with a 3-1 home victory over ten-man Aberdeen, with two goals coming in the final minutes, and followed that with a 4-2 win at Livingston in a game where the hosts were two goals ahead in the first ten minutes.

The upturn in form wasn’t to last, as Celtic crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell where the champions were completely outplayed.

On Saturday, Rangers bounced back from a goal down to defeat Celtic 3-1 at Parkhead to inflict Nancy’s final defeat as Celtic manager, with his departure announced only two days later.

- Calum Loudon