JUST GO NOW
Hartson urges Lennon to call it quits at Celtic
JOHN HARTSON has told Neil Lennon that his time as Celtic boss is now up.
With the title race already as good as over at the turn of the year, a weakened Parkhead team turned in another desperate display in Saturday’s goalless draw with Livingston.
Lennon, assistant John Kennedy and 13 first-team players were forced to self-isolate as close contacts of Christopher Jullien, who contracted Covid-19 after returning from a controversial training camp in Dubai.
Under the guidance of first-team coach Gavin Strachan, Celtic registered just one shot on target on Saturday to ensure they have taken just two points from the past three matches and sit 21 points behind Rangers.
Even as a friend and former team-mate of Lennon, Hartson feels he can no longer support the
Northern Irishman remaining in the post. ‘I am a pundit, but I care like the fans care,’ he told the ten10podcast.com. ‘I am a Celtic supporter and ex-player and it is just very disappointing to see how this season has so fizzled out. I think a change is needed. ‘I send Neil best wishes and good luck when he needs it — but to lose the league in such a big, big season in the way they have, has been so disappointing. ‘Not just me, look at Chris Sutton, Stan Petrov, Alan Thompson and Henrik Larsson (former team-mates). We all love Neil and want him to succeed and we were all delighted when he brought home the quadruple Treble. ‘But I do genuinely think, with the situation in the league, a change is needed from the bottom to the top, I really do. ‘The whole thing needs to be changed and it needs to happen pretty soon. ‘It has taken me this long to say I would like to see a change, new staff, a freshness, something different. ‘Neil has done amazing. His trophy haul has been fantastic both as a player and a manager. I just think the club need to say that they are going to change the manager, whether he goes at the end of the season or now. ‘It is a tough call for me to say it but it needs to be done. The time has come.’ What was billed as one of the most historical seasons in the club’s history has been shambolic from the word go, with two European exits and a home defeat to Ross County in the Betfred Cup compounding wretched league form. Hartson believes the Celtic players should be glad no supporters are allowed into Parkhead this season due to coronavirus restrictions. ‘I actually think it is a blessing that the fans are not allowed in because at this moment in time there would probably be about 15,000 fans watching Celtic,’ he added. ‘I think a lot of them would have stayed away having watched some of the drivel Celtic have served up this season. ‘I think the players have got away with murder. I played at Celtic Park for five years and I had the Celtic manager and the crowd barking down my throat every time I gave the ball away.’