“Celtic are in big bother in the here and now,” Chris Sutton

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·28 Maret 2026

“Celtic are in big bother in the here and now,” Chris Sutton

While there’s plenty of attention on the remaining games in the current season as Celtic look to pull an unlikely league and cup double out of a turbulent season on and off the park, attention must surely shift sooner rather than later regarding what comes next at the club in the summer…

Viljami Sinisalo at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

A summer boardroom clear-out

There are strong indications of a boardroom clear-out starting with Michael Nicholson, clearly the wrong man for the CEO job. The backseat he has taken in recent times indicates to many that he is merely treading water to see the season out before heading off the a new brief, possibly at UEFA. Three non executive directors are reportedly stepping down and there’s even talk of Dermot Desmond selling up amid ongoing tensions with the Celtic support.

Video OneFootball

Paul Tisdale. Premier Sports Cup Final. 14 December 2025. St Mirren v Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

There is no Director of Football, or Head of Football Operations as Paul Tisdale was called before he was sacked alongside Wilfried Nancy in the first week of 2026. And of course there is a need to bring in a new manager.

The new manager will require to follow a failed strategy

The problem with this is that Celtic seem intent on anyone in that job following their we know better than anyone else strategy, club signs, the odd punt, bargain basement bargains, lowball offers for decent prospects and of course no viable pathway for the best of the young Celtic Academy talent who all seem to want to get out the front door and head for the border as soon as their current contracts end. Ben Doak, Daniel Kelly, Rocco Vata and Daniel Cummings are the latest four to do just that.

Arne Engels of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Arne Engels may have itchy feet this summer

We have all these players out on loan and another bunch of loan signing at the club currently, with just one or two of that collective having any real prospect of a future at the club. Then we have players who have served Celtic well who will want away this summer – Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and maybe Yang. Kasper Schmeichel time is up at Celtic, Arne Engels, denied a £25m move to English Premier League side Nottingham Forest might have itchy feet this summer. We could go on.

The outrageous, disgraceful ban on the Green Brigade

The there’s the fractured relationship with supporters, the outrageous, disgraceful ban on the Green Brigade and other affected supporters dragged into this vindictive sanction from our Board who claim to be fellow Celtic supporters. A ban on fan media to shut down questioning and lock out descent that they knew was coming their way.

Celtic supporters during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

European uncertainty for Celtic

The European campaign – which at this stage could be anything from Champions League group stages to failing in the Conference League qualifiers. Trying to sell season tickets – the Celtic Fans Collective meet next week to discuss this and other urgent matters – and they like to shift the new kits in the summer. Demand will not be at its optimum level without the above matters are sorted.

Given the failings of the Board over recent times does anyone have much faith in all of this being accomplished?

Chris Sutton . Scottish Premiership. Wednesday 14 May 2025. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Chris Sutton’s take on all of this

Chris Sutton outlined his own thoughts on these matters in his weekly newspaper column this morning. Writing in today’s Daily Record the former Celtic striker issues a serious or red flag warning for the club to negotiate and what a daunting prospect

“It’s hard to quantify just how much work Celtic have to do to sort out this mess in the summer. It’s a herculean job,” Chris Sutton stated.

“There are few players in that squad who would be worthy of staying, yet even some of those who are proven winners such as Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate are clearly at the end of their cycle at the club and have to be moved on.

Reo Hatate of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Daizen Maeda during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at De Kuip on November 27, 2025 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

“Mix that with all the loan signings who will go back to their clubs, the loanees who will return who were not deemed good enough to stay for this season in the first place and the additions which had to be made over the past three windows and weren’t, you are talking about the need for around 12 or 15 players at least,” Chris Sutton estimated.

Who is the Director of Football? Is there going to be one?

“And who, may I ask, is plotting and planning at the moment and putting the groundwork to get these players? Well we all know that Martin is going to be leaving, so it’s not him. Where is the new recruitment head? Who is the Director of Football? Is there going to be one?

“Maybe there’s a grand plan in the background that none of us know about. My suspicion is that there is not and, if there is, why not come and say? Silence is deafening.

“The managerial appointment, needless to say, is a massive one. Celtic got it so badly wrong with Nancy it’s almost untrue and now they are back looking again as Martin holds the fort.

New manager Ange Postecoglou poses for a photo at Celtic Park Glasgow. Photo Jeff Holmes

“Ange Postecoglou was able to go into Celtic when the squad was a shambles five years ago and somehow sort the whole thing out quickly. Rodgers did something similar in his first spell and I feel it is going to take another appointment of that standing to try and take on all the tasks.

How much licence will the new boss get?

“But then, whoever gets the post, how much licence will the new boss get from upstairs to recruit and secure the players he really wants? It’s hard to see so many mistakes being covered over the space of one summer.

“Hearts are organised, (the) Rangers have a jump on them as well if you listen to what Andrew Cavenagh said earlier in the week about more investment for the squad.

“Celtic are in big bother in the here and now. If they don’t sort themselves out quickly, it might be more of the same later,” Sutton concluded.

Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…

Quick Tip – Add thecelticstar.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!

Click to join Celtic Pools