Chris Sutton did not hold back in his assessment of the Celtic board after Martin O’Neill led the Hoops to an important victory away to Falkirk.
It was not a vintage performance from O’Neill’s side at the Falkirk Stadium, with Celtic labouring for long spells before Benjamin Nygren’s lone strike proved enough to secure all three points and send the team back to Glasgow with a vital win.
Celtic struggled to impose themselves against John McGlynn’s outfit and were fortunate not to fall behind, with the hosts missing two clear chances that could have changed the course of the match.
Despite O’Neill recording back to back victories, Sutton quickly turned his attention to the club’s hierarchy as the January transfer window continued to tick by. The former Celtic striker suggested the manager is being left to paper over cracks once again.
Writing on X, Sutton praised the result but questioned how long O’Neill can continue to deliver with a squad he feels is short of quality. He described the win as excellent given the circumstances, but warned that relying on the manager to keep producing results without proper backing is not sustainable.
The victory lifted Celtic into second place in the Scottish Premiership, although they remain six points behind leaders Hearts. Even so, Sutton’s frustration was clear as he challenged the board’s lack of activity and questioned where the club’s recruitment strategy has gone.
His comments struck a chord with many supporters who share the same concerns as January progresses with little tangible progress in the market.
While deals have yet to materialise, Celtic continue to be linked with a number of potential signings. Reports suggest the Hoops are keeping tabs on Hibernian youngster Keiron Bowie, though a reported £6 million valuation could prove a stumbling block.
There is also said to be interest in Croatian winger Franko Kovacevic as O’Neill looks to add more threat in wide areas, something that was notably missing against Falkirk.
In addition, Celtic may be exploring the goalkeeper market, with Manchester City’s Stefan Ortega emerging as a possible option.
For now, there are plenty of rumours but no confirmed arrivals. Sutton’s warning has been issued, and the pressure is on the Celtic board to act and provide O’Neill with the reinforcements many feel are urgently required.