Tom English didn’t hold back in his reaction to Celtic’s shock League Cup final defeat to St Mirren, taking aim squarely at the board, the same board many supporters were chanting against at Hampden Park.

“Sack the board” was one of the louder refrains from sections of the Parkhead support on Sunday, with anger boiling over after Wilfried Nancy’s side failed to deliver silverware and showed little cohesion on the big stage.

On BBC Radio Sportsound, English delivered a blunt assessment of where he believes the real problems lie at the club.

“A cup final today, and that’s a problem in itself, but the really big problems are beyond that,” he said. “The board, the performance of the board, the signings, the people in that club just don’t think good enough for the club anymore. They’ve been there too long, some of them should never have been there in the first place.

“So it’s way beyond Wilfried.”

English’s comments struck a chord because they echoed the frustration of many supporters who feel Celtic’s struggles run deeper than on‑field tactics or recent managerial change. For large sections of the support, the issues start at the top, with recruitment, planning and leadership, and filter down to the players and coaches.

Nancy walked into perhaps one of the toughest jobs in Scottish football. With injuries, no pre‑season and a divided fan base, his task was never going to be straightforward. But for many, his appointment has become a symbol of deeper shortcomings, with English one of the more prominent voices laying responsibility at boardroom feet.

There does need to be a change at Celtic, but there doesn’t look to be one immediately.