Neil Lennon’s ex-teammate at Parkhead has noticed Celtic have put in some mediocre performances in recent weeks.
Celtic legend John Hartson has urged the Scottish Premiership leaders to put an end to the managerial uncertainty at the club if they are to avoid more displays like the meek goalless draw at Hibernian last time out.
The Hoops remain in pole position for the Scottish Premiership title and are hoping to complete the treble treble, but a second stalemate this month – after that against Livingston on 6 April – has led to some raised eyebrows amongst the fanbase.
As it stands, Neil Lennon remains in interim charge of Celtic until the end of the season, having taken the reins following Brendan Rodgers’s controversial departure to the Premier League, and there remains plenty of discussion regarding who should get the permanent gig.
Hartson, a former teammate of Lennon’s at Celtic in the 2000s, believes the Northern Irishman will get the Bhoys over the line in the Prem and in the Scottish Cup, but he feels the “limbo” over the managerial situation has impacted upon the players, while also suggesting it’s similar to last summer’s botched recruitment drive.
“A major reason for (Celtic’s current negative football reputation) is that there is no clarity about the future of the man in the dugout, and that goes for a great deal of the playing squad too,” Hartson wrote in the Glasgow Evening Times. “Make no mistake, I think there is a big rebuilding job to do at Celtic this summer, with an injection of fresh blood sorely needed.
“It all reminds me a bit of last summer, when the Celtic support were sitting back and waiting for big names to arrive at the club and then none materialised. That uncertainty around the club… seeped its way into the players and onto the pitch. I think the limbo the club is currently in is seeping onto the pitch again, and that is why we are seeing more and more of these laboured performances.”
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action on Saturday when they welcome Kilmarnock at Parkhead in a 12:30pm kickoff.
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