Reports that Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have been offered substantial wage cuts have sparked concern among Celtic supporters.
Chris Sutton, however, believes there is one important detail many fans may be overlooking.
With Martin O’Neill now officially confirmed as Celtic manager, many have started questioning whether his preferred coaching team will remain in place.
However, Sutton’s latest comments offer an important reality check. While negotiations may still be ongoing, the former Celtic striker believes supporters are reading far too much into the situation.
What should Shaun Maloney’s role be at Celtic next season?
Celtic supporters should listen to Chris Sutton
Sutton was asked about the uncertainty surrounding Maloney and Fotheringham and made it clear he is not worried by the delay.
He said: “I’ve got to say, I don’t read too much into it. The one thing is I mean, you know, logically Martin signs his new deal, right?
“This isn’t Martin’s first job of course. Certainly not his first job at Celtic but this is a position where he has the power. So Martin I’m sure before he signed on the dotted line for another year at Celtic would have said listen I need whoever.
“Maybe it’s Maloney, maybe it’s Fotheringham, maybe there’s other coaches who he wants but I am pretty certain that Martin would have the whole say in terms of who he wants in his coaching team and in the background with him.
“He will get the say on that otherwise why would he have put himself in that position? And so I think that it is much to do about nothing.”
Whether supporters agree with Sutton or not, his logic is difficult to dismiss.
Celtic wage-cut reports explain the concern
The concern stems from reports that Maloney and Fotheringham have been offered substantial wage cuts despite O’Neill reportedly wanting both men to remain as part of his coaching setup.
Continuity matters. The pair played key roles alongside O’Neill during last season’s double-winning campaign, which is why the prospect of either leaving has generated such a strong reaction.
Celtic have not lost either coach
That said, there is an important distinction between difficult negotiations and departures.
At the time of writing, neither Maloney nor Fotheringham has officially left Celtic, with reports indicating negotiations remain ongoing over their futures.
The current uncertainty may be frustrating, but it is not evidence that O’Neill’s plans are falling apart.
Celtic fans may already have the biggest clue
The strongest point in Sutton’s argument is O’Neill himself.
Celtic only recently confirmed the manager’s new contract, ending weeks of speculation over his future. It is fair to assume that discussions over the structure of his backroom team would have formed part of those talks.
That does not guarantee Maloney and Fotheringham will stay. It does, however, make Sutton’s assessment look entirely reasonable.
The wage-cut reports deserve scrutiny, but until there is concrete evidence that either coach is leaving, the suggestion that Celtic are heading for a major backroom upheaval feels premature.
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