FORMER Celtic striker Chris Sutton is urging Brendan Rodgers and Peter Lawwell to have clear-the-air talks.
The Hoops boss appears to be frustrated in the lack of investment in the playing squad during the summer.
Chief Executive Lawwell sanctioned a record £9million deal for Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain following the striker’s successful season-long loan deal.
Goalkeeper Scott Bain, who had also shone during his four-month temporary spell, was brought in after his Dundee contract expired.
Rodgers, though, has lost Stuart Armstrong in a £7million switch to Southampton while centre-back Erik Sviatchenko returned to FC Midtjylland for £1.2million.
Loanees Patrick Roberts and Charly Musonda also went back to parent clubs Manchester City and Chelsea.
The champions’ gaffer had targeted Hibs midfielder John McGinn, but after four failed bids, the Scotland star moved to Championship side Aston Villa for £2.75million during the week.
Sutton said: “He (Rodgers) is clearly unhappy. I doubt Peter Lawwell is particularly chuffed, either, given his manager has now gone public on the failure to bring in the quality signings the club needs.
I’M WATCHING YOU…Chris Sutton (right) on the TV gantry along with former pundit Alan Stubbs, who is now St Mirren manager.
“There are faults on both sides. It’s hard to believe this has kicked off given where the club are right now.
“Back-to-back trebles, financially sound and lording it over the entire Scottish game.
“Rodgers calculates every move and doesn’t utter a word out of place, so his decision to air his grievances before the AEK Athens game was telling.
“The timing was poor. It’s been clear since the start of pre-season and one of his first interviews in Austria when he spoke of needing replacements and quality that he was getting his points across, so why wait for another six weeks to spell it out? Why not do it at the time?
“Was it he knew his side were up against a very good Greek team and might have been under-equipped to deal with it?
“Now he’s making noises about possibly leaving if the club won’t push on. It’s odd behaviour.
“I read Rodgers and Lawwell didn’t speak in the wake of Tuesday’s words. I find that ridiculous. Surely you clear the air?”
Sutton, Martin O’Neill’s first signing for the club at £6million from Chelsea in the summer of 2000, added: “Rodgers is right when he says they’re actually weaker than last season.
“And the last thing he’d want is his former Liverpool captain (Steven Gerrard) making life uncomfortable up here.
“Lawwell and Rodgers need to sit down and sort it out.”
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