Chris Sutton fears that Celtic could take Martin O’Neill for granted as we remain in silence over incoming players.
The summer, which Chairman Brian Wilson promised would be ‘”very active” in terms of recruitment, is yet to even move an inch off the ground.
O’Neill’s assistants, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham, weren’t even confirmed until the first day of pre-season after a drawn-out negotiation process.
Despite talk this week that he could walk away, Sutton doesn’t think that his ex-boss will end up in the same civil war that Brendan Rodgers did, but has urged the club not to take him for granted.
👀 A reasonable figure?
Chris Sutton: ‘I would be stunned if O’Neill walked away from Celtic’
Sutton wrote in the Daily Record: There’s been some suggestion this week that Martin O’Neill might [be frustrated] – and even some talk he might feel the job is not worth the hassle.
“I’m not sure about that. Put it this way – I would be absolutely stunned if Martin walked away.
READ MORE: Celtic ‘miss’ Kelechi Iheanacho option as player trains in Nigeria
“While they remain, I get the sense of calm. But that can change very quickly and we know how damaging it can be if Celtic stands in their way of big moves.
“It’s going to be a tricky time for O’Neill to negotiate and he is going to need to be backed properly.
“Like I said, I can’t see a scenario like Brendan Rodgers last summer, where you could sense the rise in exasperation levels growing by the week.
“The grumbles over signings got louder and louder and the writing was on the wall when he said he felt numb after the transfer window and then came out with his Honda Civic line soon after.
“Publicly he tried to stay positive but you only had to look at his team sheets to see he wasn’t too impressed with the incomings.
“That can’t happen again. Celtic’s board won’t need to worry about Martin throwing them under the bus but that doesn’t mean they should take him for granted.”
Celtic’s first five 2026/27 Scottish Premiership fixtures
Thoughts Celtic fans? 🤔
Martin O’Neill’s vital two Celtic assistants
Maloney was moved from the position of Player Pathways Manager upon O’Neill’s initial arrival in October.
Celtic were the club where Maloney’s coaching journey began, when he linked up with Brendan Rodgers to initially work with the club’s reserve side.
Fotheringham, on the other hand, was an external appointment, having spent his coaching career in England and Germany.
The pair were reportedly offered “substantial pay-cuts” by the club before negotiations resumed.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
