Former Celtic striker and pundit Andy Walker has slammed the club’s board for making a £9m blunder in failing to replace Brendan Rodgers adequately.
That was the compensation fee said to be received by the club when the former Bhoys boss made the switch to Leicester City in February 2019 [Sky Sports].
Walker reckons Neil Lennon is on his way out of the club but will get the rest of the season in the dugout.
The Sky Sports man believes that Celtic then need to do what they should have done in the wake of Rodgers’ departure.
Speaking to the broadcaster on Thursday, Walker said: “I’ve been very critical of the Celtic board and their approach – I don’t think there’s been any succession planning.
“When you have a manager like Brendan Rodgers, that relationship with the board didn’t end well as Rodgers was critical. The Celtic board hate criticism, and they were delighted when he left to go to Leicester.
“They were delighted to get £9m in compensation. They should have recognised that he was a great manager and that he had improved players who were already at the club.
“They should’ve looked to get the next Brendan Rodgers, the younger version, in much the same way that they scour the rest of Europe for players who don’t go straight to the Premier League in England. Celtic should be targeting a young coach who has a proven track record of improving players.”
Lennon’s Celtic future
Media outlets have indicated via sources this week that the Hoops manager isn’t going to be sacked any time soon [Scottish Sun].
Walker’s prediction that Lennon remains until the summer appears sound.
The Sky Sports man is hardly the most pro-Celtic voice in the media, so it’s not much of a surprise to hear him lay the boot into the board.
However, I can’t find much fault in what he says.
Celtic didn’t even do any due diligence in the wake of Rodgers’ departure. Whoever our next manager is, he needs to be appointed at the end of a long, extensive recruitment search.
Our most significant investment in the football department should be in whoever takes charge.
In other news, Celtic have been handed a transfer profit tease on Thomas Robert.
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