Chris Sutton has backed concerned supporters for voicing concern over Celtic's slow start to the summer, insisting “it shouldn’t take this long” to get key business done.
The former striker says he understands why the Celtic Fans Collective (CFC) have already issued a statement criticising the board, with frustration growing over a lack of signings and no confirmed backroom team ahead of pre-season.
Writing in the Daily Record, Sutton said: “Martin needs help – on and off the pitch. I get that there might have been financial and contractual issues surrounding Maloney and Fotheringham.
"But if those two were the ones O’Neill wanted, the club should have been bending over backwards to sort it out as soon as possible.
“It shouldn’t take this long. Time is ticking, and current players are going to start filtering back for pre-season in the next week to 10 days, and then you consider the huge amount of work needing done to bolster this group.
“That’s why I totally understand why fans are nervous for what is ahead the rest of this summer.
"The Celtic Fans Collective have already put out a statement criticising the board, and it’s still only June.”
Celtic are yet to confirm Martin O’Neill’s full backroom staff, while there has been no meaningful movement in the transfer market beyond outgoings.
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That lack of progress has only heightened concern among supporters, with Sutton pointing to activity elsewhere as a worrying contrast. “Rangers have already brought in a new manager and signed a reliable goal scorer. Hearts have had a rough month, but they have brought in five new players,” he added.
“Celtic are now days away from pre-season, and the dugout hasn’t properly been confirmed yet, and that’s before they even get to signing players.
“That’s why I totally understand why fans are nervous for what is ahead the rest of this summer.”
Sutton also referenced last year’s early warning signs, insisting the current mood is familiar. “They’ve seen this before. I got some stick for raising the alarm bell early in pre-season 12 months ago, but it was because I could see the potential problems coming down the pipeline.
“There’s time to avoid a repeat, but it is marching on.”
He finished with a pointed message to Brian Wilson after promises of a busy summer. “Interim chairman Brian Wilson said in his interview on club television last week it was going to be a busy time.
"Then get to it.”
