Kris Boyd has claimed that Neil Lennon phoned up former team-mates in the media who had been critical of his management of Celtic.
Reluctantly and with no sense of joy Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Stan Petrov spoke out saying that they felt that it was best for all concerned if Lennon stepped down as manager.
All three had played alongside Lennon in the glory days under Martin O’Neill but weren’t prepared to compromise themselves by claiming that Celtic’s season could be turned around.
Speaking to BBC Scotland after the 1-0 defeat at Ross County Lennon said that he was the man to rebuild Celtic this summer but two nights later he had resigned after just short of two years in the job.
In The Sun, Boyd claims:
In the end, it all got ugly with Lennon losing the rag after the Dubai debacle and also hammering former team-mates of his who are now working in the media. Dogs in the street knew he was under pressure, but he just couldn’t accept that pals of his were questioning him.
It reached the stage where he was phoning them up to have a go at them, but he was taking aim at the wrong people. That brings me to the elephant in the room, otherwise known as Peter Lawwell. For me, he’s had far too big a say at that club for far too long and the sooner he’s out the door the better for all concerned.
Dominic McKay is taking his place in June, but whoever comes in as the next manager should be demanding guarantees that Lawwell isn’t involved somewhere along the line. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if he clings on to some advisory role.
Since his resignation was announced Lennon hasn’t made any comment about his decision.
It shouldn’t be long before he appears on television, possibly on Sky Sports alongside Boyd and Andy Walker where there will be an expectation that he will provide some comment on his Celtic resignation.