Furious Chris Sutton launches blistering attack on Celtic recruitment policy

The former Celtic, Chelsea, Blackburn and England forward named 18 players signed in the past two seasons under Celtic's Norwegian manager Ronny Deila who have not been good enough for European football.

Sutton, flanked by fellow former Celtic team-mates Stilian Petrov and John Hartson, intimitated that only goalkeeper Craig Gordon was of an acceptable standard to play at the European level.

Sutton made his comments after Ajax ended Celtic's Europa League hopes at the group stage with a 2-1 win at Celtic Park.

They have not qualified for the Champions League since 2013, and have failed to win any of their past 10 outings in the Europa League. They are bottom of the Group A after five matches with only two draws against Ajax and Fenerbahce.

"We're talking about trying to get into the Champions League, and we're on a learning curve in the Europa League," said Sutton on BT Sport.

"I tell you what we're learning? We're learning that we're not good enough for Europe, that's what we're learning.

"The recruitment hasn't been good enough. It has been hopeless.

"I'm not just blaming Ronnie. The club has to have a look at themselves.

"It's not rocket science, it is going to get worse.

"If you keep selling off your best players, and you are not improving, you are just going to get worse and worse.

"Enough fans stand there (at the end) and clap the players off the pitch. Do they really deserve it? I don't think so."

Referring to Deila losing his temper with valid questions from a BT reporter on air, Sutton added: "The manager hasn't covered himself in glory with comments at the end of the match.

"Would you stick with him until the end of the season?"