CHRIS SUTTON has warned Celtic bosses they face an atmosphere “beyond toxic” when the defence of the team’s Premiership title kicks off against Dundee at Parkhead in nine days time.
Normally, Flag Day in the east end of Glasgow – and the club have enjoyed thirteen such celebrations in the past 14 years – is an occasion for festivities at a bouncing and packed stadium.
However, former goal hero Sutton is concerned this season’s bid for a record 57th crown could be launched in the midst of a distinctly different mood.
The media pundit is worried his old club could face a furious backlash from frustrated supporters following just one arrival since the transfer window opened on June 15, the £5.5million signing of Camilo Duran from Qarabag.
The Hoops have struggled to get deals over the line with midfielder Mika Baur, of newly-promoted Bundesliga side SC Paderborn, and Bodo/Glimt hitman Kasper Hogh seemingly on the brink, but the fans will not be convinced until the contracts are signed, sealed and delivered.
HEAD-SCRATCHER…Martin O’Neill looks puzzled.
Looking at the predicament, Sutton said: “Not much makes sense about my old club this summer.
“They got away with one last season and had the chance to really make amends and build bridges with the supporters.
“If anything, they have driven an even bigger wedge between the club and fans.
“Listen, they might go out and bring in four top-quality signings in the next few days and everyone will be all smiles.
“They might have to. Otherwise the atmosphere on Flag Day a week on Monday is going to be beyond toxic.
“I just don’t get it. All fans want to see is their club having the best possible chance of being successful.
“They have the resources to properly bury their rivals on the home front and attempt to make an impact on the European stage.
“Instead, they are struggling to even get back to the level they were at last season, which everyone knows wasn’t good enough and it could have turned out entirely differently.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, commented: “The lack of clarity or even a plan coming from the boardroom leaves fans thinking the club’s chiefs are sitting back, believing they got it right all along and that fans should keep quiet and leave them to it.
WANTED MAN…Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates another crucial Celtic goal.
“Whether that is what they believe or not doesn’t matter – that is the perception.
“You don’t get long in this game to celebrate success. That’s not how elite sport works.
“You get the momentary feeling of jubilation. Then it’s followed by realisation.
“Standing still in sport is moving backwards. The board might be backslapping after a double and they can point to the domestic dominance of the last 15 years.
“But time waits for no man. It’s always about what is next. Right now it’s uncertainty.
“It’s not even about dipping into the £70million rainy day fund. Fans would accept just reinvesting the money the club are banking from sales.”
The one-time England international forward, who cost £6million when he joined from Chelsea in June 2000, continued: “Martin O’Neill was made to look foolish with the shambolic handling of the Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi transfers.
“I have mixed feeling over Iheanacho, but it doesn’t matter what I think. O’Neill said he wanted them back and the club failed to deliver.
LONE CELT…Camilo Duran, the solitary Hoops purchase this summer.
“The contrast to his first spell in charge is stark. Back then, Celtic had lost the league to Rangers by 21 points, but Martin came in and the club were aggressive in backing him.
“The manager, the players, the supporters, everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet.
“Now? Everything is disjointed. It took an age to agree the deal to get him back permanently, longer still to give him his preferred backroom team and now we’ve got barely a week before the start of the season and the rebuild everyone predicted has not even started.”
Sutton added: “It was clear a year ago this squad needed freshening up. It was a team coming to the end of its cycle.
“At this moment there are three or four key players on the books, but everyone is aware they won’t be for much longer.
“And yet the replacements are going to be pitched in to competitive matches in Scotland and in Europe.
“It all just seems like an unnecessary risk. Celtic should be giving themselves the best possible chance of success and yet they are making life more difficult for themselves.
“They can talk about the difficulties of the transfer market, but no other club seems to make such heavy weather of it.
“The end of last season was thrilling – the summer has been just confusing.”
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