Celtic fans have called for their manager to go during a season in which their grip on the title appears to be slipping
Stan Petrov has become the latest former team-mate to call for Neil Lennon’s Celtic exit.
John Hartson has already urged Lennon to leave, as a disastrous season for the Scottish champions continues to lurch from crisis to crisis.
On Monday afternoon Lennon gave an extraordinary press conference, in which he passionately defended his club’s trip to Dubai and took swipes at former Celtic man Andy Walker as well as the media and the Scottish Government.
His side returned from the controversial trip only for 13 players to face self-isolation following defender Christopher Jullien’s positive test, and a depleted side subsequently drew back-to-back games at Celtic Park against Hibs and Livingston.
Those results left Celtic 21 points behind Rangers as their chances of winning a historic tenth successive title appear to slip away.
Hartson told Ten10 Podcasts that: “I think a change is needed, the time has come.
“They have to give another manager the opportunity to run the club now.
“Maybe Neil needs a new challenge and needs a little bit of fresh start? He’s done everything in his power to make it work and sometimes it just doesn’t work.
“Neil is intelligent enough and he’s got to see this.”
Asked by ex-Celtic defender Mark Wilson on The Celtic Huddle podcast if he agreed with Hartson, Petrov said: “Yeah I think so. Now it comes to the point where Celtic have to make the change in approach and I think a new manager has to come in with his staff.
“A leader, somebody who can lead the team in a different direction and who can motivate and change the style of play. What we have seen, and it’s just in my opinion, is that Celtic are still trying to play the football we have seen under Brendan Rodgers.
“Nice, slick football with a lot of possession, but now we have seen ruthless Rangers. They will go and they will stop you playing.
They will have better players and better characters who will stop you winning a game. We have to change the approach.
“It’s something they have to deal with. Do they make the change now or in a month’s time? I think they make the change now and have a big push for the end of the season.”
On Manchester United legend Roy Keane’s name being thrown into the hat, former Celtic and Aston Villa man Petrov said: “What a name to come up for the job. I think Roy’s name has been mentioned a couple of years ago. To be honest it’s something that is needed.
“Does Roy go head to head with Steven Gerrard and compete with the same intensity and desire? Yes he does.
“Is he going to be somebody the Celtic fans would like to see in charge? Yes, I think so.
“Would I look forward to it? Yes. Would that fire get back into the Celtic players again? I think it would.
“You can actually compare what Steven Gerrard did with Rangers. He started two and half years ago and look at the difference.
“He now has a team that is ready to compete and fight for the manager and the jersey.
“That’s what we need Celtic to do and unfortunately they need to do it sooner rather than later. Why not?
“I’d be quite excited to see Roy given a chance so it will be interesting to see if that can happen.”
Keane made 13 appearances for Celtic after joining in December 2005.
Petrov won four league titles during his time in Glasgow, and lined up alongside Lennon in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.
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