CHRIS SUTTON has claimed the stakes are so big this season for Neil Lennon and Steven Gerrard that one of them will be out the door by the end of May.
The BT pundit can’t see both surviving until next term and depending on who wins the league will put the other manager out of a job.
“There’s only one team can win it (League Cup) and it will lay down a big marker.” Sutton told SunSport.
“They still have to get past Hibs and Hearts, who have stumbled this season. But they have both shown against the Old Firm this season they can perform.
“A lot of Rangers supporters think their team have cracked it this season.
“If Celtic do win the first trophy, there will be doubts across the city.
“But for Gerrard to come north, ultimately he needs to win something. That’s the pressure of managing Celtic and Rangers.
“If I’m honest, the team that finishes second in the league, I don’t see their manager lasting next season. I think it’s that big.
“They are both managers with great passion and knowledge of the game, but this season is massive.”
Neil Lennon doesn’t have to be told the stakes for Celtic and he’s going about his business very well. He knows he’s put himself in a position as the man who wins ten in a row for Celtic or the man who falls short.
Steven Gerrard has lived a charmed life at Ibrox with expectations low enough he can survive more than his predecessors. If the Ibrox club were to win a cup trophy this season they would keep him on – contrary to what Chris Sutton believes.
It’s tight at the top right now and sign a busy run of fixtures both clubs will have to asses where they are in January. Celtic ultimately only need the SPFL title to be happy but the cup trophies back at Celtic Park for a fourth season in a row would be astonishing.
