Neil Lennon sacking 'inevitable' as former Celtic defender blames players for Ross County performance

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is fighting to keep his job after the Betfred Cup defeat to Ross County.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon puts his hand to his head during the defeat to Ross County at Celtic Park on November 29, 2020 (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)Celtic manager Neil Lennon puts his hand to his head during the defeat to Ross County at Celtic Park on November 29, 2020 (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Neil Lennon puts his hand to his head during the defeat to Ross County at Celtic Park on November 29, 2020 (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Ex-Celtic defender Alan Stubbs believes it is becoming ‘inevitable’ that his former Parkhead team mate will be sacked from his post following the shock 2-0 home defeat that put an end the club’s stranglehold on domestic silverware.

However, Stubbs also rounded on the Celtic players, insisting they must take the blame for the position Lennon finds himself in.

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Speaking on Premier Sports after the match, Stubbs said: “It's aways easier to get rid of the manager because it’s one person.

“If that was to happen – which for Neil's sake I hope it doesn't – but the more and more you see performances like that, it's inevitable.

“Then you'll see a big turnaround and the players will say the new manager is great, and this and that, and I just think it's a sad reflection of the group of players.

“Because it’s always the manager’s fault. When that manager leaves a new manager comes in he's great … it's a cop out for me, it's too easy.

“The players need to look at themselves and stop looking for excuses and for scapegoats, and be the ones who take responsibility.

“Once they cross that line they're not playing for the manager. They are playing for the club and for themselves and there's been too many excuses out there from the beginning of the season with players not getting the moves they wanted and feeling sorry for themselves.

“This is a huge football club and they should be privileged to play for [Celtic], and that's the sad thing about it.”

Fellow Premier Sports pundit, Michael Stewart, also believes Lennon’s second spell in charge of Celtic is approaching an end.

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“Many people have got to take responsibility for where Celtic find themselves at the moment,” he said. “The decision making on the park with players, decision making with the manager in terms of tactics and formation and also from the board in terms of some of the recruitment that has gone on.

"Everyone is culpable, but unfortunately there's one person that's going to pay for it with his job and that does seem inevitable now. For the run Celtic have been on, to be knocked out the cup at home to Ross County, it ceritanly feels as if it's building towards that.”

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