Chris Sutton has given a fascinating and sincere interview to BT Sport podcast The Currie Club this week, going into a whole range of Celtic issues from his relationship with Neil Lennon to his apparent ban from Ibrox.
Sutton is no stranger to media appearances of course, though he often puts a jovial and light-hearted slant on many of his opinions, even if he’s making a serious point.
The former Celtic striker showed a different, more candid, side to him in this week’s podcast, providing heartfelt insight on his fall-out with Lennon in particular, stating there was often a ‘nagging feeling’ in his stomach when having to be negative about his teammate’s performance as boss – who later snubbed him as a result.
Though, Lennon isn’t the only Celtic figure who has taken issue with his comments over the years. Sutton also shared testy interactions with Leigh Griffiths and Craig Gordon, two players he has outspokenly criticised in the past.
Recalling a time he was spotted by Griffiths at a match, Sutton told The Currie Club: “It was quite an interesting show of pettiness…’you come down here’, ‘no, you come up here’. That was how it started. He was really angry.
“I was critical of his physical condition. Don’t forget Leigh Griffiths was such an important player at Celtic – a brilliant natural goalscorer. I thought he’d let himself go and I wasn’t the only one thinking that. I said it – he took offence. But I stand by what I said and I told him that.
“I get it. I played and you don’t take criticism well. Leigh’s a passionate guy. He wanted to vent his frustration and I said to him that the best way to do that was to get himself fit enough to become an asset to the team.”
Later, Sutton also went into an awkward interaction with Gordon on a flight to London, stating that the two had been ‘at war’ in the media before sitting next to each other on the way down: “He’d spoken about the criticism I’d given him, so we were at war. We sat looking at each other and then he was sitting next to me on the plane. I gave him my view and he was fine. That’s the whole point of prepping and backing your opinion.”
Despite potentially being unpopular with friends and professionals, Sutton has never shied away from his role as a pundit. He always says what he thinks, even if it will ruffle a few feathers.
That’s why he’s found success in the profession, hosting radio shows down south, appearing regularly on TV broadcasts up here and penning multiple newspaper columns every week.
Long may it continue, as far as I am concerned!
In other news, Sead Haksabanovic’s message to Celtic supporters bodes well.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
