Celtic in Regression – “It’s on Martin yeah, he is the manager,” Chris Sutton

Chris Sutton reckons that the responsibility for what’s going wrong at Celtic ultimately lies with his old mentor Martin O’Neill…

It’s time to go Dermot

While some will look to the boardroom and in particular non-executive director Dermot Desmond, who unless he reckons that he is bigger than Celtic itself, should look at exiting himself from the football club and the earlier possible moment. If you are a Celtic supporter, Mr Desmond, and you come to the conclusion that you are doing more harm than good then it’s time to move on.

Any new investor would be unlikely to keep mute Michael Nicholson in place

But ultimately football for any manager is a results game and Martin O’Neill this first frosty morning of the autumn finds himself on thin ice after yet another defeat, this time a 2-0 win away to Falkirk.

Speaking after the match that was broadcast live on Sky Sports, Sutton was simply doing his job when he pointed out the situation regarding his old Celtic boss.

“There’s been problems all season,” the former Celtic striker admitted. “Martin is not going to say it, of course he’s not, but the club is in regression. The team is in regression, they’re just not a good functioning team at this moment in time.

“Martin can turn around and say that Celtic are top of the league, ok, but let’s talk about Europe. Celtic are ahead of a team from an outpost, Azerbaijan or Armenia, and that’s it. They’ve been woeful in Europe. And Celtic fans quite rightly expect more.

“Has Martin been given everything which he would have desired in terms of players in the transfer window? Well we know that story. But you have to say, should the team be performing better on the pitch?

“There’s this big debate. Is it about Shaun Maloney and Fozzy and their coaching or is it on Martin? Well this is all on Martin, because essentially he employs the coaches and delegates and asks them to play and train in a certain way,” Sutton stated.

He added: “And it’s hard to see how Celtic are actually set up, it is a bit off the cuff. I mean the way Celtic look like scoring a goal – get the ball out to Hassan and hope he can do something. And that’s the way it’s been essentially all season.

“It’s on Martin yeah, he is the manager.”