Chris Sutton has urged Neil Lennon to step down as Celtic boss to salvage his reputation.
The Irishman was a hero, a warrior during his playing days alongside Sutton then took over from Tony Mowbray as manager in 2010 and left with three titles to his name in 2014.
Champions League failures to Cluj and Ferencvaros raised concerns about Lennon on his return to the club but his credit in the bank left many fans feeling that he could still be trusted to deliver this season’s SPFL title.
The wheels came off Celtic’s season in the autumn but while the club promised a managerial review in the new year the vast majority of fans have already delivered their verdict on Lennon with demands for a change of manager.
Picking up on Sutton speaking on BT Sport tonight, The Sun reports Sutton saying:
If I was in his situation, I would walk away. Neil is my friend. His legacy as a player and a manager, he’s done great things for the club.
He was a big fans’ favourite and he had a big connection with them as he never gave up on the pitch. I can understand his thought process at the moment. I still think there will be something in the bottom of his stomach where he feels he can turn this situation around.
The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have any support. Because of what he has achieved at the club as a player and manager, I don’t want in years to come for Neil to be remembered as being obstinate and awkward at this moment.
Lennon’s relationship with the club appears to be strained with Monday’s media conference failing to make it onto the club’s You Tube channel.
During that media conference the manager told Sky Sports that they wouldn’t get access to Celtic players but since then Ryan Christie and Moi Elyounoussi have been interviewed by the broadcaster.
