Play Football: Write A Book, Seems Obvious Doesn't It

While Chris Sutton is not directly involved in football a the moment, he has had the time to look back over his life so far. Parkhead welcomed back Chris Sutton today as he started off the inevitable trail round the bookstores ahead of Christmas (sorry but I had to use that word in October!) as he launched the publication of his autobiography 'Paradise and Beyond' for the Number 7 function suite with an unrivalled view of the pitch. The pack of journalists had to wait out in the cold and drizzle until the appointed hour with security and the front desk at odds with what had been arranged for the launch. However, all was well once Sutton arrived. Just as he got settled in front of the assembled media, he was dragged off by the PR company for some shots in the stand to make sure everybody knew why he was there. Some of the requests from the snappers did require him to have the ability to read three versions of his book at the same time and also hold a couple next to his face. The fact that he will know what was in the book did not dissuade him from pretending to read his book for the publicity shots.  Once back on the bosom of the Number 7 suite, Sutton was quizzed, not about his book, but about the present state of Celtic as they trail their old rivals by ten points and sit third in the league. Sutton knows a little about how moving from player to manager feels from his time at Lincoln City but he knows the goldfish bowl that Neil Lennon and his Rangers counterpart, Ally McCoist, is filled with various sharks out to watch every move of the Old Firm managers. He sympathised with Lennon's plight as he said: "Neil was always a fighter when he played and always wanted to win. His frustration appears to be regarding the players he has at his disposal now who do not seem to be of the same calibre as when we played. When you are a player, there is something you can do about the position your team is in while as a manager all you can do is hope the players take on the messages from the training ground. If that does not happen, the manager gets under more pressure to get things right. However, it is down to the players to perform to the best of their ability". He went on: "It is easy for me to come up and do what has to be done in Glasgow. I can go away home and away from any pressure. Neil has to live and work here and it is hard to distance yourself from the club and relax and refocus on what needs to be done." Sutton's book has a foreword written by the one and only Henrik Larsson who considers his old striking partner as the best he ever played with. Not a bad endorsement when you think who Larsson played with over the years. Sutton is equally full of praise for Larsson who he puts at the top of the tree in terms of ability and partnership.  Chris Sutton: "Paradise and Beyond, my autobiography", with Mark Guidi, is published by Black and White Publishing and is priced at £18.99. Just right for your favourite Celtic fan.

Source: FOOTYMAD