Nigel Reo-Coker has admitted his early backing of Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic appointment was misplaced after the Frenchman’s unsuccessful spell at the Hoops came to an abrupt end.
The former West Ham midfielder had been among Nancy’s strongest supporters when the appointment was made, pointing to his achievements in MLS and his reputation for progressive football.
However, following the difficulties Nancy encountered at Celtic, Reo-Coker has acknowledged that the circumstances were far more challenging than he initially anticipated.
Appearing on talkSPORT, the ex-Aston Villa man reflected on the situation and suggested Nancy’s inability to adapt ultimately proved costly.
“It didn’t work out, but I will stick by — initially, at this time — he was a good coach.
“I don’t understand why some people get in different situations and scenarios and feel that they have to change and be brand new.
“You can’t be stubborn. In the modern game of being a manager, anyone with any common sense, whether you want to be a manager or a coach, understands that you have to be flexible.
“You have to be flexible. You have to be versatile. Especially, I don’t think he realised the magnitude of what it meant to manage a club like Celtic.”
“That was one of the biggest mistakes. I think he was very naïve, in the sense of: regardless of all the conversations he had, to get to a club like Celtic and not understand what it means to manage that club, and try and be stubborn in your patterns of play and style of play…
“It was never going to work.”
“To implement a style of play and a pattern of play, it takes time. It takes pre-season. It takes that foundation to build with your players, for them to understand what your principles are of a manager, what their roles, jobs and requirements are.
“But to go in halfway through the season and try and do that? You’re always going to be in a losing battle.”
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