John Hartson has voiced strong concerns about whether Dermot Desmond will commit the financial resources required to attract a manager of Roberto Martinez’s stature to Celtic F.C..
Speaking alongside Frank McAvennie, the former Treble-winning Celtic forward issued an emotional reality check about the scale of the overhaul needed at Parkhead this summer.
With Celtic facing the real possibility of surrendering their Scottish Premiership title to either Heart of Midlothian F.C. or Rangers F.C., Hartson stressed that a manager of Martinez’s calibre would require major financial support to turn around what he sees as a declining squad.
“He (Desmond) needs to spend money,” Hartson urged. “If he wants to bring in any manager of worth, then he has to give him money. If they aren’t going to win the league this year, they aren’t going to win it next year with this group of players.”
Martin O’Neill is doing all he can in pursuit of another title in Glasgow, but regardless of the outcome, it’s evident what is required in the summer — a major clear-out from top to bottom.
Would Dermot Desmond be able to attract Roberto Martinez to Celtic?
Martinez is currently managing Portugal national football team and is preparing for the 2026 World Cup, where his side are considered among the favourites.
However, even if Martinez were open to the move, Hartson believes the key obstacle isn’t timing or availability, but something else entirely.
The former striker argues that a high-profile figure like Martinez is likely out of reach due to Celtic’s long-standing reluctance to significantly invest in transfers.
McAvennie has also voiced worries that Desmond may not loosen the purse strings this summer, despite the current campaign being one of the poorest in recent years.
Hartson insisted that such an approach is simply not viable, warning that failure to act could cost Celtic another title next season.
McAvennie: “If he goes for the boy at Motherwell, it’s a cheap option. If he goes for him, then it means he isn’t going to give him the money that we need.
“If he goes for somebody like Martinez, he is going to say, like Martin (O’Neill), ‘This team is s__t, we need players.’ We need a manager who is going to come in and do that. I don’t think Dermot will offer it, that’s for sure.”
Hartson: “He (Desmond) needs to (spend money). If he wants to bring in any manager of worth, then he has to give him money.
“Otherwise, Celtic, if they aren’t going to win the league this year. He has to spend money, for goodness sake. If they aren’t going to win the league this year, they aren’t going to win it next year with this group of players. He has to spend money, whoever he brings in.
“The manager, whoever comes in, will want to get us back into Europe. Achieving Europe. Get back to winning leagues. We have come off it. Way off from where we were.
“As I said before, we are the champions of f___ing Scotland. We are the current champions. We were a penalty away from winning the Treble.
“Do you think Martinez will come without wanting a £30 million war chest. You aren’t going to get Martinez because he is going to demand too much money.”
McAvennie: “That’s the only reason I think, if he comes and there is any chance of him coming, that means to me that Dermot Desmond is going to give him money. That’s the only reason.”