Wilfried Nancy has rubbished bizarre rumours that long-serving Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods had left the club, confirming the experienced coach remains part of his backroom staff.
Speculation gathered pace online earlier this week, with WhatsApp messages and social media posts claiming Woods had been sacked in the aftermath of Nancy’s appointment. No credible outlet picked up the story, but the rumours spread regardless.
Nancy was asked directly about it and put the matter to bed in no uncertain terms.
“No, he’s here,” he said to the Herald. “He trained with us, he’s committed to what he does, so this is the most important thing.”
Woods has been at Celtic since 2007 and is among the longest-serving members of the football department. A trusted figure across multiple managerial eras, he’s played a key role in developing the club’s goalkeepers – from Fraser Forster and Artur Boruc to current number one Kasper Schmeichel.
The coach’s experience is highly regarded inside Lennoxtown, and his continued presence offers some vital stability during a period of change for the club.
Nancy, still less than two weeks into the job, made it clear he values Woods’ role. Any talk to the contrary was just another case of social media fiction spiralling out of control.
It’s just what we are seeing almost daily now. Baseless rumours pick up on social media and turn out to be a load of rubbish.
Has Shaun Maloney and Stephen McManus reverted to their previous jobs now their involvement with the first team under Martin O’Neil has ended?