Chris Sutton slammed Celtic’s Dermot Desmond managerial search — says one mistake could lead Celtic into disaster

Former Celtic F.C. striker and current pundit Chris Sutton has issued a stark warning to the club’s hierarchy: the ongoing search for a new permanent manager must be handled with the utmost care a single misstep, he insists, could usher in a period of serious decline. His ire in particular was directed at the role of the club’s principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, and the way the recruitment process is currently being structured.

Strong words on the board’s process

Sutton has been critical of the way Celtic’s board and Desmond are conducting the search for the next boss following the resignation of Brendan Rodgers. Earlier this month Rodgers stepped down amid a wobbling campaign and fractious relations with the board. 

In his commentary, Sutton argued that the decision-making has been opaque and that relying on old models of appointment where a single powerful shareholder orchestrates the hire  leaves the club open to error. He referenced Desmond’s past influence on managerial appointments and cautioned that this time must be different.

“If you get this next appointment wrong, you risk dragging Celtic back into mediocrity,” Sutton wrote.

Sutton emphasised that in the current climate  with domestic challengers rising and European competition tougher than ever Celtic cannot afford a false start. He said: “It’s not just about replacing Brendan Rodgers; it’s about resetting direction. One mistake at this stage and you’re in danger of sliding.”

Why the warning is urgent

The backdrop to Sutton’s warning is bleak for the Hoops. Celtic find themselves in a transitional phase: Brendan Rodgers’ departure has left the club eight points behind league leaders, and their European campaign has suffered. 

Sutton points out three particularly worrying symptoms:

• The squad he believes lacks the depth and quality to deliver at the highest level right now.  
• Fan unrest and growing frustration with the board’s handling of recruitment and vision.
• The sense that past cycles of success have lulled the club into complacency meaning that an unprepared appointment could cost the club dearly.

In such a context, Sutton argues, the stakes of the next hiring are higher than they’ve been for years.

Desmond’s role in the firing line

Sutton’s comments make clear that he views Dermot Desmond as central to the risk. Desmond, as Celtic’s major shareholder and one of the key figures on the board, has long influenced managerial appointments. Reports suggest that this time the board intends a more formal recruitment process  but Sutton remains sceptical. 

He cast doubt on whether genuine independence exists in the process, noting that Desmond’s past pattern of selecting managers (such as earlier appointments) leaves little margin for error now. Sutton warned: “If the board gives the appearance of just rubber-stamping a favourite, then we’ll end up back-peddling from this season onwards.”

What Sutton wants to see

To avoid disaster, Sutton has outlined a series of demands or criteria for Celtic’s next move:

• A clear managerial profile: The club need someone who can blend attacking ambition with ability to handle the pressure of expectations — not a stop-gap or safe choice.
• Backing and clarity: The chosen manager must know his remit, have clarity on transfer policy and have the board’s full support from day one.
• Time and patience: Sutton has previously argued that supporters should give the next manager time to settle.  But he warns that patience has limits when results slide.
• Avoiding internal drift: He stressed that Celtic cannot afford another period of drift the new manager must be appointed promptly and decisively to maximise chance of success. He wrote: “Delay equals danger.”

Setting the scene

As Sutton delivered his critique, two credible candidates for the job are being mentioned  Kjetil Knutsen of Bodo/Glimt and Wilfried Nancy, recently of Columbus Crew.  But Sutton’s main point is less about the names and more about how the choice is made.

He believes Celtic should not simply chase names; the structure of the process, the clarity of vision, and the alignment between board, manager and playing squad matter just as much.

Celtic has dominated Scottish football in recent years  but Sutton argues that dominance is no longer guaranteed. With rivals pushing and Europe offering fewer safety nets, the margin for error is slim.

He warned: “This next appointment won’t just define the next 12 months it will define the next five years of the club. Get it wrong, and you’re looking at a long fall rather than a bump.”

Chris Sutton is sending a loud message to Celtic’s board led by Dermot Desmond that the next managerial decision is fraught with risk. One wrong move, he says, could plunge Celtic into a spiral of underachievement rather than be the launchpad for a new era.