Martin O'Neill receives brutal Celtic message amid sack rumours
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has taken aim at manager Martin O’Neill following the club’s 2-0 defeat to Falkirk on Sunday afternoon.
First-half goals from Ethan Ross and Scott Tanser condemned the Hoops to their sixth loss in their last 10 games, with pressure beginning to mount on O’Neill despite the fact they remain top of the Scottish Premiership table by four points.
O’Neill, 74, was tipped to resign from his role at Celtic Park during the September international break, following three consecutive defeats to Rangers (twice) and Ferencvaros, but he eventually opted to remain at the club.
However, sack rumours are beginning to grow amid the club’s indifferent recent form and former Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been strongly linked with a move to Celtic in recent weeks.
The Scottish giants are yet to make a final decision on O’Neill’s future at the club, but Sutton believes their defeat to Falkirk was entirely the 74-year-old’s fault.
Chris Sutton takes aim at Celtic boss Martin O’Neill
“The club and the team are in regression. They're just not a good functioning team at this moment in time,” Sutton told Sky Sports on Sunday.
“Martin will say they're top of the league but in Europe, they're ahead of a team from an outpost in Azerbaijan or Armenia, but that's it. They've been woeful in Europe. Celtic fans, quite rightly, expect more.
“Celtic have had issues all season. It's not a great surprise that Celtic have come to Falkirk and been rolled over. They weren't great in the week and I still don't think Martin O'Neill knows his best XI.
“There's not an area of the team or the club that is functioning as it should this season and that's a problem.
“There's this big debate about Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and their coaching, or is it on Martin? This is all on Martin because he employs the coaches and he will ask them to play and train in a certain way.
“It's hard to see how Celtic are actually set up. It's a bit off the cuff - get the ball to [Haissem] Hassan and hope he can do something. That's the way it has been essentially all season.”
Meanwhile, Kris Boyd added: "There have to be serious questions asked about Martin [O'Neill] now.
"Last season is over now... and right now, for Celtic to have lost six in the last ten in all competitions still isn't good enough. They're miles off it. Overall if you look at Celtic right now, where are they going?
"If you're operating as a top football club, you should already have a list of who your next managers are.
"Celtic haven't a clue what they're doing... the hierarchy will say 'we're still successful, we're still winning', but eventually it catches up with you if you don't have a plan in place."
