Chris Sutton has called out Dermot Desmond over his notorious attack on Brendan Rodgers.
Within 20 minutes of Celtic announcing the resignation of the former Liverpool boss Desmond launched an astonishing attack on the outgoing manager.
Nothing was spared. Celtic were a brilliantly run club being undermined by Rodgers. Rodgers had been economic with the truth over his contract and transfer dealings.
RODGERS SIGNED OFF ON ALL CELTIC SIGNINGS!
Apparently Rodgers signed off on every transfer deal. So the manager was the driving force for club signings such as Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamyura, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey.
Funnily enough two subsequent managers haven’t gone near using any of those club signings. Two have been moved on.
Fans waited on a reply from Rodgers to the character assassination from Desmond.
A statement was expected from the League Managers Association to defend and support their member.
More than two months on there has been no reply from Rodgers.
There is no need.
Every day the model cherished and praised by Desmond is imploding.
The successor to Rodgers lasted just 33 days, racking up six defeats, losing a cup final and handing the SPFL title initiative to Hearts.
In the Daily Record, Sutton exposed the statement from Desmond for exactly what it was:
Where is the future planning? Where is the structure that Desmond said was working just fine and the previous transfer issues were purely down to Brendan Rodgers? Because from the outside it doesn’t look like there’s ANY structure.
It looks more like Celtic were sleeping on the job and the much-heralded model was more down to luck than design. Right now the silence from above suggests they are in complete denial. Rangers and Hearts have been proactive while Celtic are in a panic.
SUTTON ON SLEEPING AT THE WHEEL
Fans have accused the club of being sleeping at the wheel for years. European results for Celtic confirm that the concerns were spot on. Sutton agrees with the fans.
Michael Nicholson watched closely the managed decline under Peter Lawwell during season 2018/19.
From John McGinn to Marian Shved and Oli Burke.
Nicholson’s decline is far from managed.
Celtic lost six out of their first 20 SPFL matches. They took seven points from six Europa League matches, lost out to Kairat Amlaty and presented St Mirren with the League Cup.
LEADING SPORTS LAWYER
Under the ‘leading sports lawyer’ the decline has been far from managed. Halfway through January it has raced completely out of control.
Sutton added:
O’Neill has his work cut out putting things right on the pitch but to hear he’s also having to scramble around for players in the January window, working around the clock, constantly watching videos and talking to agents, it almost defies belief.
It also throws up a lot of questions. The Celtic board haven’t been great at answering them this season, that’s for sure. Brendan Rodgers quit and no one came out to explain it, apart from that infamous Dermot Desmond statement and a couple of cosy interviews on the club TV.
There was no one with O’Neill when he was unveiled – twice – and the same when Nancy came in. Similarly, there has still been no official reason why Paul Tisdale was sacked. But it would be handy to get some answers. Like, what the hell has been going on these last six months or so?
O’Neill is running around, talking to agents, watching scouting reports and so on, but it sounds like he’s starting from scratch.
Over the course of 30 years Desmond has very rarely got directly involved.
He has been shrewd enough to keep clear of the failings on the front line. Dominating Scotland for the last decade has been enough.
That is now seriously under threat.
Celtic could well go into February in third place in the SPFL Premiership. One of the worst leagues in Europe.
Desmond had his say on losing an elite manager. With every passing day of un-managed decline the silence from Rodgers speaks volumes.
