The promotion winning MK Dons boss has been heavily involved in the recruitment process for the Scottish champions

Paul Tisdale has been integral in Celtic’s managerial search and immanent appointment of Wilfred Nancy.

The ex-MK Dons manager has been in position at Celtic Park since October 2024, when he was hired as Head of Football Operations. In the new role, he was tasked with overseeing development and management of effective operations to support high-level football performance, including the identification and development of talent and recruitment processes.

Tisdale led MK Dons for 17 months from 2018-2019, helping them to automatic promotion from League Two at the first attempt with a dramatic final day win over Mansfield Town to secure third place. However, a poor start to life in League One saw him sacked with the side in the relegation zone after going ten games without a win. He was replaced by Russell Martin, who would, six years later, manage on the other side of Glasgow with Rangers.

The former Exeter City man would go on to have spells at Bristol Rovers, Stevenage and Colchester United before taking up the role in Scotland.

Speaking at the time of his appointment at Celtic, Tisdale said: “In my role I will be doing all I can to further develop our work across talent identification, development and analytics, always with the aim of ensuring high-level support of football performance.”

Following the departure of Brendan Rodgers from Parkhead last month, just a handful of months into the season, Tisdale has been put to work to find the next leader of the Buoys, using data and analytics to scour the market for a successor.

And Tisdale’s hunt, working alongside chief executive Michael Nicholson, appears to have put them on course to hire Colombus Crew’s Nancy, with talks reported to be at an advanced stage.

During his time in Ohio, Nancy has picked up the MLS Cup in 2023, and the Leagues Cup - a competition between US and Mexican sides - last year, and was named MLS Coach of the Year. This season, Crew sit 12th in the overall standings.