WILL IT BE ALL CHANGE AT CELTIC?

Whoever takes the hotseat must rebuild Parkhead squad in summer

NEIL LENNON believes Celtic face their biggest overhaul of playing staff since the departure of Martin O’Neill 14 years ago.

Back in the summer of 2005, Lennon was appointed captain by the incoming Gordon Strachan while stalwarts Chris Sutton, Joos Valgaeren, Jackie McNamara and Paul Lambert all left the club.

With a number of current players out of contract or due to return to their parent clubs after loans, Lennon believes a similar rebuilding job is necessary to maintain the Parkhead side’s domestic dominance.

But Lennon — or whoever is named the next permanent manager of Celtic — faces a race against time to get the work done.

There are just 23 days between the Scottish Cup final on May 25 and the scheduled start of pre-season training on June 17 — ahead of the first Champions League qualifier kicking off on July 9/10.

Here, Sportsmail casts an eye over the Celtic squad and the likelihood of changes this summer.

SCOTT BAIN

The former Dundee keeper has established himself as No 1 with club and country since the turn of the year.

Incredibly, he leads the Premiership’s clean sheet table despite only starting 18 matches for Celtic. EXIT RATING: 1/5

CRAIG GORDON

The former Scotland keeper has not played for Celtic since the 1-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox on December 29. He is currently injured and, although he is contracted until 2020, it would not be a surprise if he departs this summer. EXIT RATING: 3/5

DORUS DE VRIES

The Dutchman has not played for Celtic this season and his contract expires this month. He is surely set to depart, with Celtic linked with a move for Livingston keeper Liam Kelly. EXIT RATING: 5/5

JEREMY TOLJAN

Signed by Brendan Rodgers on loan in January, but Lennon has preferred the more triedand-trusted Mikael Lustig. Toljan will head back to parent club Borussia Dortmund at the end of the campaign. EXIT RATING: 5/5

The 32-year-old left-back has won 13 trophies across two spells with Celtic but is set to depart the club when his contract expires this summer. EXIT RATING: 5/5

JACK HENDRY

The £1.5million signing from Dundee flopped and is now the forgotten man of Celtic Park. Contracted until 2022 but is now likely to be moved on. EXIT RATING: 4/5

JOZO SIMUNOVIC

Struggled for game-time under Rodgers but is enjoying a new lease of life under Lennon. The Celtic boss described the centreback as ‘dynamite’ after scoring two goals in his last two games to take Celtic to eight-in-a-row. EXIT RATING: 1/5

CRISTIAN GAMBOA

The 29-year-old right-back was signed in August 2016 from West Brom but has failed to establish himself. Out of contract, a departure seems inevitable at the end of the season. EXIT RATING: 5/5

DEDRYCK BOYATA

Denied a £9million move to Fulham in August, the Belgian international downed tools for Celtic’s Champions League trip to AEK Athens. He will quit the club under freedom of contract this summer. EXIT RATING: 5/5

MIKAEL LUSTIG

The Swede (right) was out of favour under Rodgers after the loan signing of Toljan from Dortmund but restored to the team under Lennon. If Lennon gets the job, he wants to hand a new contract to a player he describes as one of the best signings in the club’s history. EXIT RATING: 3/5

FILIP BENKOVIC

The Croatian defender has impressed after being signed on a season-long loan from Leicester City by Rodgers. He will return to the Foxes, who are now managed by the former Celtic boss. EXIT RATING: 5/5

MARVIN COMPPER

The German has played just once for Celtic — a Scottish Cup win over Morton last season — since joining the club in January 2018. He is under contract until 2020 but a summer exit looks likely due to the fact that Compper has continued to be frozen out under Lennon. EXIT RATING: 4/5.

KRIS AJER

The 21-year-old has had a superb season at centre-half. He will hope to be a first name on the team-sheet for the Champions League qualifiers. EXIT RATING: 1/5

KIERAN TIERNEY

A four-time league champion at the age of 21, but has had an injury-plagued season and needs a double hernia operation at the end of the campaign. Inter Milan and Napoli are interested and there could be further interest in the talented Scotland international this summer. EXIT RATING: 3/5

NIR BITTON

The Israeli has slipped down the pecking order at Celtic behind Scott Brown, Callum McGregor, and Olivier Ntcham. With one year left on his contract, Celtic could cash in on Bitton. EXIT RATING: 4/5

SCOTT BROWN

The Celtic captain has enjoyed another influential season and is contracted to the club until 2021. Lennon has confirmed Brown will remain at the heart of the team should he get the rebuilding job. EXIT RATING: 1/5

SCOTT SINCLAIR

Celtic have moved to trigger the final year clause in Sinclair’s contract after a season in which he scored 17 goals. But that move could be to ensure the club maximises a fee for the attacker this summer, with Middlesbrough among those interested in signing Sinclair. EXIT RATING: 4/5

Often overlooked by Rodgers, the versatile Irishman has flourished under Lennon since his return to Parkhead. He is under contract until 2020. EXIT RATING: 2/5

The former Inverness attacker became one of the first names on the team sheet until his season was ended by multiple facial fractures suffered in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. When recovered, Christie should play a key role next season. EXIT RATING: 1/5

The Australian international is contracted to Celtic until the summer of 2023. That leaves the Scottish champions in a strong position should bids arrive amid rumoured interest from English Premier League clubs Southampton and Leicester. EXIT RATING: 3/5

The out-of-favour midfielder signed a pre-contract agreement in January to return to former club Hibernian. Allan agreed a three-year deal with the Easter Road side. EXIT RATING: 5/5 The subject of a bid from Porto last summer, Ntcham (left) has looked unsettled this season. He signed a new deal until 2022 but it would be no surprise to see him leave. EXIT RATING: 4/5

McGregor has been one of the best players in the Premiership this season and ended up captaining his country. The midfielder is set to remain a key figure in the next campaign. EXIT RATING: 1/5

EBOUE KOUASSI

A £3m fee was paid to sign the midfielder from Russian outfit Krasnodar in January 2017. But he suffered a bout of malaria then injuries and failed to make the breakthrough. Under contract until 2021 but Celtic could try to get some of their outlay back this summer. EXIT RATING: 4/5

VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO

A £2m signing from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda in January, the striker played just one minute for Celtic before rupturing his hamstring in training. He hopes to be back for the Champions League qualifiers in July. EXIT RATING: 1/5

ODSONNE EDOUARD

Celtic’s first-choice striker and top scorer, the Frenchman has regularly proven himself to be a man for the big occasion. The former Paris Saint-Germain frontman will lead the line in Europe next season. EXIT RATING: 1/5

OLI BURKE

The Scotland international has scored four goals since his loan switch from West Brom in January but has looked raw. He will return to the Hawthorns at the end of the season. EXIT RATING: 5/5

TIMO WEAH

The son of AC Milan legend George Weah scored three goals in his first five matches but has netted just once more since amid less game-time. He will return to parent club PSG this summer. EXIT RATING: 5/5

LEWIS MORGAN

The former St Mirren winger was loaned to Sunderland in January and will be hoping to get Jack Ross’ side promoted to the English Championship through the play-offs before returning for a fresh start at Celtic. EXIT RATING: 2/5

LEIGH GRIFFITHS

The troubled 28-year-old striker has been out of action since December due to personal issues and he faces an uncertain future. Celtic hope he will return to the first team, but no date is set, although Lennon reported this month the player was making ‘good progress.’ EXIT RATING: 2/5