And the former Hoops hitman says the board’s complacency in the market has now tricked down into the first-team dressing room given recent form in the Premiership.
Celtic decided to sell top striker Kyogo to Stade Rennais for £10m, which some fans saw at the same as an excellent fee for a 30-year-old.
And while Daizen Maeda has since carried the burden of Kyogo’s exit to an exceptional level, Sutton is still seething that the Parkhead board were as complacent as they were.
Sutton thinks Celtic chiefs knew they already had the Premiership title wrapped up in January, especially given Rangers’ spectacular troubles on the pitch.
And while it is extremely likely Celtic will win a fourth successive league crown, Sutton has correctly pointed out that the players have lost focus.
Chris Sutton blasts Celtic hierarchy and players for complacency
Celtic have lost three of their last six Premiership games, the latest loss coming last weekend as St Johnstone claimed a shock 1-0 victory in Perth.
Brendan Rodgers was fuming with his players post-match and Sutton says complacency is the last thing the Northern Irishman wants from his players – and the board for that matter.
Writing in the Daily Record, Sutton said: “It’s perhaps understandable the Celtic squad think the league is in the bag and they can take their foot off the gas – because the people running the club have done exactly the same.
“I said it at the time and it’s even more clear now. The decision to sell Kyogo in January and failure to recruit a replacement just smacked of complacency.
“The message was that they wanted another striker but, ah well, it wasn’t to be. They assumed the Premiership was done and dusted and they could get by with what they had.
“They might be proved right in the end but it’s no wonder that attitude has seeped in to the dressing room.
“It’s certainly not a message that comes from the manager though and Brendan Rodgers didn’t mince his words at the weekend after the woeful defeat to St Johnstone.
“He admitted he wanted a striker in January – and he definitely doesn’t want anyone in his squad to be coasting. That goes for the board too.”
When Celtic can win the Premiership title?
Celtic filled out three stands at McDiarmid Park last weekend as fans expected weeks in advance that a Premiership title party would be had in Perth.
That wasn’t to be the case, but a win against St Johnstone would have set up a potentially memorable day at Parkhead this Saturday as Celtic take on Kilmarnock.
St Johnstone had other ideas, or you could say – much like Sutton – that Celtic have completely took their eye off the ball over the last few weeks.
However, Celtic CAN still confirm four-in-a-row against Killie, although they are relying on Rangers to drop yet more points when they face Aberdeen on Sunday.
If not, it rolls over to the first Premiership matchday after the top six splits in half, with Celtic yet to know their final five fixtures of the season.
