Chris Sutton has warned that the 'firebomb' of Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell's home could prevent top players from joining the club.

Mr Lawwell's home and his car, along with three other motors, were torched in the early hours of yesterday morning as his family - including his young granddaughter - lay asleep in a flat above his garage.

The sinister incident is being probed by cops who believe they may have identified the culprit.

Sutton hopes the attack was not football related, but he still believes it could potentially give top players and coaches second thoughts about joining either Glasgow club for fear of the rivalry becoming too much.

He said: "Would the terrible thing that happened to Peter put off someone coming up here?

“That would be for the individual to decide for himself. When I came up in 2000, I was aware of the rivalry to an extent and for the most part in the five-and-a-half years I was there, I enjoyed the back and forth between the fans. But there were always moments when people overstepped the mark. Over the piece, it is a brilliant city and you’re hoping that incidents like this don’t dissuade top managers and top players to come up to Scotland.

"But the image this is portraying is not good. I’ve had friends down south texting me this morning about the attack on Peter Lawwell’s house saying, ‘What on earth is going on up there?’

“It’s shameful. It’s giving Glasgow a terrible reputation."

Speaking to the Daily Record the Hoops legend added: "This is the work of a couple of idiots, probably. And it’s not about the club they support – it’s about personal responsibility.

“I just don’t understand what goes through somebody’s mind to do that.

“How would they feel if their own families were subjected to such a terrifying ordeal? They’d be outraged.

“Thankfully, nobody was hurt but the consequences of the action taken by whoever carried out this attack could have been horrific. It’s bad enough with the damage to vehicles and the residence, as well as the trauma to the people inside the house.

“He’s had to put up with a lot over the years but this is just a different level of unacceptability. It’s just wrong and I hope he and his family are alright.”