‘DERISORY’: KING AND GERRARD FACE BACKLASH, INSISTS HOOPS HERO

CHRIS SUTTON has warned Steven Gerrard and everyone at Ibrox they face a furious Celtic backlash – because of the derisory comments of former chairman Dave King.

The ill-judged remarks about the Parkhead side “folding like a pack of cards” will see club owner Dermot Desmond redoubling his efforts and reinforcing his plans to ensure the Hoops come straight back after the monumental disappointments in the bid for the historic tenth successive title.

Neil Lennon and his players have faltered in a momentous campaign with points shed at a disastrous rate while the club have come off the rails in an inexplicable manner.

Former goal hero Sutton, now a top media pundit, said: “Dermot Desmond will be making plans to take Celtic back to the top.

“Whatever they are, I’ll bet he’s just upgraded them as Dave King’s words filtered into his ears.

“I would imagine King’s celebratory chat about Celtic folding like a pack of cards and talk of uncorking bottles of wine from 1872 will have had Desmond taking a large sip of whatever is in his cup at the dinner table and tightening his resolve.

“Supporters at Parkhead once unveiled a banner in a corner of the stadium which warned against their club sleeping at the wheel. Effectively, that is what King has just accused Desmond and Peter Lawwell of doing.

“His chat about Celtic not making use of their resources properly will be like a red rag to a bull.

“Put it this way, if it’s not, it should be.

“If the story is true, and I’m led to believe it is, that it was billionaire Desmond’s sighting of King and his directors lapping up their win at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final over his club almost five years ago which led him to go out and enlist the services of Brendan Rodgers, then this was the interview version from King of that National Stadium jig.”

Sutton, writing in his Daily Record column, added: “Whatever you think about him, he (King) was in charge when Rangers were getting hammered from pillar to post for being abject on the park and getting their backsides kicked by Celtic by 4-0 and 5-0 scorelines.

“He had to take the stick and now he’s dishing it out. I’m sure the Rangers fans are absolutely loving it, but I’d doubt Gerrard will be quite as amused with the whole thing.

“His job might just about to get harder because I can’t imagine Desmond is just to roll over and accept his management of Celtic being publicly filleted.

“Peter Lawwell is moving on and the changes at Parkhead are going to be sweeping for the next few months as they look to get back what’s been lost.

“Desmond would surely have had big plans, in any case.

“But I can’t believe they have not just got up a notch or two with King’s derisory tone.”