Celtic to name new manager before Hearts clash as identity unveiled and ex Hibs gaffer could land role upgrade

Celtic are said to have identified their new manager - with ramification for upcoming fixtures against Hearts and Hibs.

The Premiership champions travel to Easter Road in the league on Sunday, following on from a Europa League clash with Feyenoord this Thursday, before facing Hearts at home in early December. They are still without a manager after Brendan Rodgers’ resignation in October and currently sit four points off first-placed Hearts, under the interim management of Martin O’Neill and ex-Hibs manager Shaun Maloney.

It’s been claimed that Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy is the man Celtic have identified as their new head coach. He will be in charge for next week’s game with Dundee and the following clash with Hearts, but won’t be in the dugout for this week’s double-header in Rotterdam and Leith.

Who will be the next Celtic manager?

That opens up the door for Maloney returning to Easter Road for the first time since his ill-fated spell in charge during the 22/23 season at Hibs, where he was sacked just months into his tenure. Currently player-pathway manager at Celtic, it’s claimed the former Scotland and Hoops playmaker could be elevated to a permanent first team role upon Nancy’s arrival.

PLZ claim: “Wilfried Nancy is all set for a December start as the new manager of Celtic. I understand the 48-year-old French manager, currently in charge of MLS side Columbus Crew, is set to take over the Scottish Premiership champions on December 1st, if not before, depending on the completion of contracts for four members of his backroom staff who are expected to join him in Glasgow over the next seven days.

“That means Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney will continue in their interim roles for the matches against Feyenoord in the Europa League and Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Premiership. It is still unclear whether Maloney will return to his development role within the club or whether a possible promotion could follow his efforts.

What impact has Shaun Maloney made at Hearts?

“It is still to be revealed what the terms of Nancy’s contract will be, but his first match in charge looks set to be the home game against Dundee on December 3rd, before a showdown with Hearts four days later in Glasgow.”

O’Neill has spoken highly of the impact Maloney has made upon his return to the club as the interim leader. He said: “I’m working with Shaun Maloney. Shaun and I go back years and years ago when he was a young player with me.

“But he has experience in management now. And he’s worked as well, too, with lots of really good coaches. And as I said, he himself has been a manager. So I will obviously need help. And Shaun is there to give it to me.”