Rod Stewart has never been shy about speaking his mind on Celtic, and this time his target was a familiar one. The lifelong supporter phoned the Daily Record hotline to fire back at Keith Jackson after the columnist’s latest attack on the club’s finances and January transfer window.

Jackson’s article focused heavily on Celtic’s reported cash reserves, questioning why more of it was not spent while the title race tightens. It struck a nerve with Stewart, who felt the focus on bank balances missed the point of what happens on the pitch. 

It is not unusual to see Celtic fans push back on Jackson. For many, his tone and analysis rarely land well, especially when frustration around the board is already high. Stewart’s response fits neatly into that long-running tension between large sections of the support and the journalist.

Yet this moment is more complicated than a simple pile-on. While Stewart dismissed the obsession with money, many supporters quietly accept that Jackson has touched on something real this time.

Celtic do have resources. They chose not to use them fully in January. That decision shapes the title race whether people like the messenger or not.

Stewart said: “Why the hell is Keith Jackson so obviously obsessed about how much money Celtic have in the bank? It reeks of envy. C’mon Keith, get a life mate!”

But Jackson’s argument highlights what is happening on the pitch. Celtic are behind Hearts. Rangers spent money. January passed without a single permanent fee going out. Those are facts, no matter how they are dressed up.

That is where opinions split. You can roll your eyes at Jackson’s style and still accept the point he is making. Choosing not to spend is still a decision. And decisions bring consequences.

In the end, this is not really about Stewart or Jackson. It is about Celtic and how the club has been run for years.

The next run of games will shape whether the transfer window was a succes. Until then, the debate will keep rumbling on from all sides.