Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd have gone head-to-head once again, this time in a heated exchange over whether the Celtic board is truly backing Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers has been vocal about the need for reinforcements, pointing out gaps in his side despite the money already spent. The Celtic manager has spoken in recent weeks about frustrations with the club’s transfer model and the timing of deals, sparking questions about alignment between him and the board.
Boyd seized on those frustrations during the panel debate, arguing that Rodgers’ long-term commitment remains in doubt and therefore the board is right to hold back from giving him significant funds. Sutton, however, defended the principle of continued investment, insisting that Celtic’s recruitment department has a responsibility to strengthen regardless of Rodgers’ situation.
The back-and-forth quickly turned sharp as both pundits pressed their views on Rodgers’ handling of the squad, recent signings, and the wider strategy from Celtic’s hierarchy.
Boyd said: (Sky Sports) “You’ve got to listen to Brendan Rodgers going on ‘he wants players in, he wants players in’ – if he’s not going to commit his future, whether Celtic offer him a contract or not, why would you spend a fortune on the players he is wanting?
“Once again the £11million man (Arne Engels) of last summer is on the bench, not even coming on today, the £3.5million Paulo Bernardo has not been seen either…”
Sutton responded: “You are wheeling out the same rhetoric. We are talking about this season and Celtic’s inability to replace the quality.”
Boyd countered: “Why would you give someone a fortune if he is saying he is going to leave?”
Sutton replied: “The model is the model.”
Boyd argued: “He is telling you the model isn’t working. If he is saying it’s not aligning with the football club…”
Sutton insisted: “But the football club aside from that should always be looking to recruit. They have their own recruitment department.”
Boyd continued: “Why would they give someone who has spent an absolute fortune, is potentially going to leave more money to spend?
“So he then spits the dummy out, leaving the players they have signed out of the European squad?”
Sutton challenged: “How do you know that is spitting the dummy out?”
Boyd pressed further: “Why would you bring in Yamada at Ibrox and now he has been left out of the European squad? Johnny Kenny is nowhere to be seen, now he is in the European squad?”
The fiery exchange highlights the ongoing split in opinion over Celtic’s board and Rodgers’ management. Boyd continues to insist that the club cannot throw money at a manager whose future is uncertain, pointing to expensive signings who are barely being used.
Sutton, on the other hand, believes that the underlying problem is Celtic’s failure to replace quality with quality, and that the recruitment department should be accountable regardless of Rodgers’ contract situation.
With fans also questioning the direction of the club after European disappointment, the debate reflects a wider unease over whether Rodgers and the board are aligned, and whether Celtic’s current transfer model is sustainable.
As things stand, Rodgers remains under pressure to deliver results while the arguments over backing, spending, and squad building show no sign of calming down.
