Chris Sutton made himself a hero over his six years at Celtic.
This was mostly over his on-field contribution – but one of his most infamous off-field moments is still well-remembered in Glasgow.
The 2002-03 season is mostly remembered for Celtic’s run to Seville under Martin O’Neill, but they also came within goal difference of winning the title.
Rangers secured the trophy with a 6-1 over Dunfermline, despite Celtic doing their bit with a 4-0 win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The final margin was a single goal.
And speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Kilmarnock game, Sutton sent shockwaves through Scottish football.
Celtic hero Chris Sutton on infamous ‘lying down’ comments
Sutton accused Dunfermline of ‘lying down’ in the game at Ibrox, given their manager’s personal affinity for Rangers.
And over 20 years on, he has revealed that he still stands by his comments.
READ MORE: Callum McGregor and another Celtic ally could follow Brendan Rodgers to Saudi Arabia
On the Warm Up with Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith, the conversation reached football ‘meltdowns’, and Boyd instantly brought up Sutton’s Rugby Park moment.
But the Celtic hero was firm in his stance: “I wouldn’t say that was a meltdown. That was not a meltdown.
“I wasn’t angry. I was just misunderstood. I wasn’t… there was nothing cringe about that. That is a misrepresentation.
“I would never… you’re getting me mixed up with someone else. That is totally wrong.
“It wasn’t a cringe moment. I was just saying what I thought, and a lot of people thought, and a lot of people still think.
“It did get me into some [trouble]. [It being straight after the final whistle] didn’t help. It’s nice to see authenticity, and I went on and told the truth. And people got upset with the truth.
“But it wasn’t a meltdown. It wasn’t a cringe moment. Sometimes you have to say it as it is, and I did that, and it got me in a lot of trouble.
“It was quite a hairy few days after that. Legal action and stuff being thrown about.”
Asked by Naismith if he apologised, Sutton said: “Apologise for what? The truth? They couldn’t handle the truth.
“Six game ban, reduced to five because of my character. I didn’t say sorry. I will never say sorry for that. You two have agreed with me off-air.”
Where does Chris Sutton rank among Martin O’Neill’s Celtic signings?
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic signings
Sutton famously played in just about every position for O’Neill at Celtic, but remained primarily a goalscorer.
He wasn’t the only top finisher signed in that era – John Hartson put up some exceptional numbers after joining in 2002.
O’Neill was familiar with Neil Lennon from his time at Leicester, and when he reunited with him in his first season at Celtic, it kickstarted a legendary Hoops career for the midfielder.
Alan Thompson, Didier Agathe and Craig Bellamy are among the other signings to have contributed for O’Neill.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
