CELTIC favourite Chris Sutton has issued a warning of ‘damaging a legacy’ to Martin O’Neill.
He took to social media after the interim Hoops boss suffered a brutal 3-1 defeat against Midtjylland in the Europa League tonight.
This was the temporary gaffer’s third game and his first loss, dispatching Falkirk 4-0 and progressing the club to the League Cup final with an extra time victory over bitter rivals Rangers at Hampden.
He earned plaudits for his solid first two games after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, with the question already being asked whether the 73-year-old should be in the running for a permanent contract.
But a number of others remain in the frame including Craig Bellamy, Nicky Hayen, and Kieran McKenna.
And after this evening’s match which put the Danish side at the top of the EL table and left Celtic in 28th, former Parkhead player Sutton suggested O’Neill might be better off as a short-term solution.
MIDTJYLLAND 3 CELTIC 1
Bruising night for O’Neill’s Hoops with Osmand stretchered-off
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He posted online: “Sobering night for Celtic… no great surprise. Midtjylland better in every department.
“Great to see MON return and the wins against Falkirk and Rangers but I’d hate to see MON stay on too long and damage his legacy.
“This isn’t on him at all. New manager needed in place ASAP.”
In his first spell between 2000 and 2005, ‘MON’ lifted seven trophies in Glasgow and made it to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville.
Fans were quick to offer their opinions, as one replied: “O’Neill was a smart short term choice but I agree with you, get the new manager in and then back him both with cash and a new football structure.”
A second disagreed: “I’d love to see what MON could do with a proper transfer kitty – I’d back him to find the players to address the key weaknesses in the team.”
A third called him a ‘legend’, and added ‘without investment from selling top talent, we are not going to get better’.
And a fourth wrote: “A new manager doesn’t fix overall lack of quality in squad.
“For all his (many) faults, Rodgers was absolutely right to be scathing about our recruitment.
“New manager in soon gives time to identify where needs strengthened in January – if board actually facilitate strengthening.”
Fan protests have been ongoing for some time against the Hoops board, amid perceived poor transfer business and lack of progress on and off the field.
To add to matters, a hamstring injury saw Old Firm goalscorer Callum Osmand stretchered off today to join Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Jota and Kelechi Iheanacho on the injured list.
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