Davie Hay understands the contempt and derision being directed at Brendan Rodgers by the Celtic support.
Within the space of a couple of days the Irishman went from near legendary status to a figure of scorn with a banner at Tynecastle claiming that he was ‘Never a Celt, always a fraud’.
Between Tuesday and Thursday views changed from confusion and disbelief through to anger followed by humour and contempt as video clips, quotes and stories of Rodgers’ ‘lifelong love’ for Celtic surfaced to blast holes on almost three years of an elaborate hoax.
Back in 1974 Hay left Celtic for the bright lights of Chelsea, he was looking for an extra £25/week and ended up doubling his money by heading to London with Celtic picking up a £225,000 transfer fee.
Nine years later he was back as manager steering the club to just two trophy successes but the Centenary Scottish Cup and title win at Love Street are among the most dramatic in Celtic’s history.
Reflecting on the events of the last few days Hay told the Evening Times:
I don’t think there would have been too many dissenting voices if he had turned around at the end of the season and said that he wanted to get back down and work in the Premier League and make the most of the resources that are available to them.
I’m afraid now that is no longer the case. The anger will dull and calm down but there is no question that the legacy which he leaves now is undeniably tarnished.
And it is not that he chose to leave the club. There are many people, managers and players, who have gone elsewhere but the point is not that he wanted to leave but how he done it.
The prevailing feeling now of anger is justified. Not to the extent of the nonsense that we watched with some pathetic video clip of so-called supporters chanting an odious song in an Edinburgh pub. That was nothing short of disgraceful and besmirches the reputation of the club.
That was a disgrace and a genuine affront to Celtic but in a wider sense, I can understand the sense of hurt which the Celtic fans have.
And when that hurt stars to abate then what you get is anger. What it boils down to is a feeling of being utterly sold out.
The timing of the move is all wrong but more than that it is the fact he is opting to go elsewhere after banging the drum of being a lifelong Celtic supporter.
That is what has got under the skin of the fans because there is a real feeling that Brendan sold everyone a narrative that doesn’t entirely ring true now.
After penning a farewell message to his ‘friends for life’ in the Celtic squad Rodgers told the Leicester TV channel that he would give his life to the club.
His every comment will now be cross-examined in great detail by Celtic supporters who appear to have got over the shock of losing Rodgers the moment that Odsonne Edouard’s shot hit the back of the net at Tynecastle.
Deep deep deep undercover!https://t.co/oGKNlu60Ih
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) March 1, 2019
Kennedy reveals Rodgers’ disappearing act- not even a backwards glance or good-bye @videocelts https://t.co/n7CpFrQDoa
— Celtic news now (@Celticnewsnow) March 1, 2019