The timing of this absolutely stinks, claims ex-celt Sutton
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton criticised the timing of Brendan Rodgers’ departure for Leicester City.
Rodgers led Celtic to seven domestic trophies in succession but has left with the club involved in a title chase with a resurgent Rangers and a William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibernian on Saturday.
Neil Lennon will step in as manager at Parkhead until the end of the season but Sutton feels Rodgers has tarnished his Celtic legacy.
“The timing of it stinks,” Sutton told the BT Sport Twitter account. “He’s going to a club who are playing for absolutely nothing – they are not going to get relegated, they are not going to get into Europe, and I am really disappointed.
“I think there are a lot of Celtic fans out there as well who will feel let down. This is the job which Brendan said was his dream job. So why is he going now to a club who have nothing to play for?
“In terms of how Brendan has left, he has left the club in a tough situation – short-term loans, losing the centre-back pairing [Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic] and the rightback [Mikael Lustig] in the summer. There’s a big overhaul in the summer which needs doing.
“Domestically, Brendan, clean sweep has been absolutely fantastic. Europe has been too tough for Brendan, as it has been for a lot of Celtic managers.
“It has been very negative of late. There has been a breakdown in the relationship with [chief executive] Peter Lawwell, Brendan threw him under a bus earlier in the season and from that moment you’re thinking this isn’t going to last.
“Bottom line, the timing of this absolutely st inks. brendan Rodgers is a top coach and I certainly wish him well, but come on Brendan, the timing is poor.”