Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments around Rangers and Celtic — and what the “surprise” candidate and “eye-catching” target moves might mean in the coming weeks.
🔹 Rangers: A “Surprise” Candidate for Sporting Director
- Following the dismissal of Kevin Thelwell (sporting director) and Patrick Stewart (CEO), Rangers have begun searching for replacements.
- According to recent reports, a familiar face — Barry Ferguson — has emerged as a “surprise” candidate for the sporting director role at Ibrox.
- Ferguson is a former Rangers player and once served as interim manager, which explains the club’s lingering regard for him. However, it’s also pointed out that he likely lacks the full necessary experience for a sporting-director role.
- While there is no firm decision yet, the fact that his name is being considered suggests Rangers want someone with strong ties to the club — possibly to stabilise things fast.
What this could mean: Rangers might be leaning toward a “safe” or sentiment-driven appointment rather than a high-profile external name — perhaps hoping a club legend can steady the ship and rebuild trust internally and among fans.
🔹 Celtic: Eyes on a Player from Columbus Crew — If Wilfried Nancy Arrives
- Meanwhile, Celtic are close to appointing Wilfried Nancy as their new manager — he’s been linked with the job to replace Brendan Rodgers.
- If Nancy indeed arrives in Glasgow, Celtic are reportedly considering bringing in a striker he previously signed at Columbus Crew: Wessam Abou Ali.
- Abou Ali, a 26-year-old forward, had some success under Nancy but has had a few injury issues — meaning the move isn’t considered straightforward.
- Celtic’s need for attacking reinforcements makes this potential transfer especially interesting — if Nancy lands the job, he might bring in players who already understand his system.
Implications for Celtic: A Nancy appointment could trigger a minor squad overhaul, especially upfront — whether that’s Abou Ali or other players from Nancy’s MLS past. Could accelerate Celtic’s January window plans.
🔹 What’s Driving These Moves (Context & Pressure)
- The shake-up at Rangers comes after a disastrous start to the 2025/26 season: poor signings, underperforming new players, and fan unrest.
- The club’s new owners — 49ers Enterprises (and Chairman Andrew Cavenagh) — seem keen to reset the structure and mend the club’s image.
- At Celtic, after the departure of Brendan Rodgers, there’s urgency to get a manager in place who can stabilise results quickly — Nancy ticks many boxes given his recent success in MLS.
🔹 What to Watch Next
- Will Rangers actually appoint Barry Ferguson — or pivot to a more experienced candidate if backlash builds? Keep an eye on official announcements and board statements.
- For Celtic: final details on Nancy’s appointment (compensation, contract terms) — and whether Abou Ali or another Columbus Crew player is signed in January.
- How both clubs handle the transfer window: Rangers rebuilding under new leadership, Celtic possibly starting fresh under Nancy.
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