Celtic are potentially just weeks away from losing their grip on the title
Paul Lambert has accused some Celtic players of hiding behind Neil Lennon.
After leaving his job at Ipswich on Sunday, Lambert was mentioned as a possible replacement for Lennon at Celtic Park, but he has emphatically denied interest in the job and slated the current crop of players.
The 51-year-old made 273 appearances for the club, winning four league titles, and was part of the side that denied Rangers 10-in-a-row in 1998.
Now the tables have turned, with Steven Gerrard’s side on the verge of denying Celtic their 10th successive title.
A disastrous campaign saw Celtic exit three cup competitions and fall 18 points behind Rangers, with Neil Lennon ultimately resigning in February.
Lambert believes some players have let Lennon down.
Asked on the Go Radio Football Show if he would be keen on taking the Celtic job, he replied: “No, I had eight great years there and success there.
“I wouldn’t want to ruin that relationship I have with the Celtic supporters.”
Turning his attention to the players, he added: “Some of the guys, if they don’t want to be there then they have to go. You have to move them out.
“I watched the game against Ross County the other week and they never turned up. They never laid a glove on them. That’s not Celtic.
“Some of them looked as if they didn’t want to be there and that was the big thing for me.
“If that’s the case you have to move them out.
“I don’t think the players will be given grace this time around, I think they have to get it back.
“You’re representing a global institution of a football club, it’s not as if it’s just a European club. It’s worldwide.
“And the pressure should be there, it should be there.
“If you’re at the top and you’re competing with Rangers the pressure should be on your shoulders to win games.
“I think there’s been an acceptance from some of them, looking at it.
“John (Hartson) will tell you in the old days we just wouldn’t put up with that, Barry (Ferguson) will tell you in his dressing room they wouldn’t put up with that.
“It’s an acceptance of, ‘I don’t want to shout at my team-mate in case he clams in on himself or doesn’t like the criticism’.
“Well sometimes I think you need it. I played with guys who won World Cups and were unbelievable in a dressing room when things weren’t going right.
“They won things at the highest level. Regardless of who you are, if you’re not doing the job you’ve got to be told to get your finger out.
“Looking at the Ross County game I think they let Lenny down.
“It’s dead easy hiding behind Lenny, they’ve got to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘We didn’t perform’.
“It’s dead easy to hide behind a manager when things are not going right and they’ve got to take responsibility themselves.”
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