John Hartson has raised serious doubts over whether Dermot Desmond will provide the necessary financial backing to lure a manager of Roberto Martinez’s calibre to Celtic.
Speaking alongside Frank McAvennie, the Treble-winning Celtic striker delivered a passionate reality check regarding the massive rebuild required at Parkhead this summer.
With Celtic staring down the barrel of losing their Scottish Premiership crown to either Hearts or Rangers, Hartson insists that a manager of Martinez’s quality will need significant backing to improve this declining Hoops squad.
“He (Desmond) needs to spend money,” Hartson urged. “If he wants to bring in any manager of worth, then he has to give him money. If they aren’t going to win the league this year, they aren’t going to win it next year with this group of players.”
Martin O’Neill is doing everything he can to try to secure another title in Glasgow, but whether the legendary boss is successful or not, it’s clear what is needed in the summer, and that’s a clear-out from top to bottom.
- READ MORE: Celtic should be concerned if Frank McAvennie is right about Dermot Desmond’s summer plans
Would you take Roberto Martinez as Celtic’s permanent manager after the World Cup?
Would Dermot Desmond be able to attract Roberto Martinez to Celtic?
Martinez is the current boss of Portugal, and he is preparing for this summer’s 2026 World Cup, which his side are one of the favourites to win.
But if Martinez were to take charge, Hartson insists the primary issue wouldn’t be his timeline or availability, pointing the finger at a completely different problem instead.
The Welshman believes a high-profile target like Martinez is simply out of reach due to Celtic’s historical reluctance to open the chequebook.
McAvennie has also expressed concern that Desmond won’t spend in the summer, despite this season being one of the worst in many a year.
That’s when Hartson stated that it simply can’t happen, and warned the powers that be that they can wave goodbye to a title next season if nothing changes.
McAvennie: “If he goes for the boy at Motherwell, it’s a cheap option. If he goes for him, then it means he isn’t going to give him the money that we need.
“If he goes for somebody like Martinez, he is going to say, like Martin (O’Neill), ‘This team is s__t, we need players.’ We need a manager who is going to come in and do that. I don’t think Dermot will offer it, that’s for sure.”
Hartson: “He (Desmond) needs to (spend money). If he wants to bring in any manager of worth, then he has to give him money.
“Otherwise, Celtic, if they aren’t going to win the league this year. He has to spend money, for goodness sake. If they aren’t going to win the league this year, they aren’t going to win it next year with this group of players. He has to spend money, whoever he brings in.
“The manager, whoever comes in, will want to get us back into Europe. Achieving Europe. Get back to winning leagues. We have come off it. Way off from where we were.
“As I said before, we are the champions of f___ing Scotland. We are the current champions. We were a penalty away from winning the Treble.
“Do you think Martinez will come without wanting a £30 million war chest. You aren’t going to get Martinez because he is going to demand too much money.”
McAvennie: “That’s the only reason I think, if he comes and there is any chance of him coming, that means to me that Dermot Desmond is going to give him money. That’s the only reason.”
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