Chris Sutton is puzzled by Celtic’s decision not to offer Jonny Hayes a new contract.
In normal circumstances few people would bother about a squad player approaching the age of 33 not being offered a new contract. However, as we are constantly told, we are living in unprecedented times.
Hayes was involved in 26 matches last season despite the number of left-sided options available to Neil Lennon. Scott Sinclair and Moi Elyounoussi won’t be around next season, Boli Bolingoli dropped out of the picture dramatically in the new year leaving Mikey Johnston and Greg Taylor as the only current options on that side of the park.
Sutton is clearly close to Neil Lennon with his views perhaps reflecting a little of the managers thinking with transfer activity this summer likely to be cautious.
Writing in the Daily Record Sutton gave his thoughts on the release of the former Aberdeen winger after admitting that he could see the logic in not offering Jozo Simunovic a new contract:
Hayes, though, was a bit more strange. I’m a fan of his as a squad player. He was always ready and willing when called upon and did a good job for Lennon whenever asked.
The key thing about Hayes is he could do that job in three positions. As a left back, he went into matches and didn’t let his boss down.
Playing as a wing-back, he also had the energy to get up and down his side and, in an emergency, he could cover the attacking left-sided position in a 4-3-3.
Hayes was steady away, but if you think back to a game such as Hamilton away last season when Celtic were toiling at 1-1 against 10 men when he came on, he could impact enough and make a huge difference to help win the game.
I don’t profess to knowing his contract situation, but there’s no way he was one of the club’s big earners, so with costs not so high and an ability to cover a variety of positions, it doesn’t make sense to me he’s gone.
Especially when you consider Boli Bolingoli was never sighted once again having had a disaster against Rangers in the game last December when his team lost at home and has disappeared from the picture.
Greg Taylor is perfectly fine to play at left-back or left wing-back, but he’s not enough. Lennon knows he needs to get another one in there. If Mohamed Elyounoussi isn’t re-signed, there is also a gap in the attacking area on that side.
Dundee United, Aberdeen and Preston have all been linked with an interest in Hayes.
