Rangers legend Ally McCoist slams Celtic 'arrogance' following Neil Lennon departure

Rangers legend Ally McCoist has offered his sympathy to Neil Lennon and hit out at Celtic “arrogance” following the Northern Irishman’s departure from Parkhead.

Former Rangers manager Ally McCoist (right) with Neil Lennon. Pic SNS

Lennon has left his post following the 1-0 defeat to Ross County on Sunday that has left the defending champions 18 points behind Rangers, who are on course to win their first Premiership title since 2010-11 and end Celtic’s hopes of landing a historic 10-in-a-row.

McCoist, who once had a famous touchline bust-up with Lennon in 2011 when the pair squared at the end of an Old Firm clash, believes Lennon is not solely to blame for the club’s downfall this season and pointed the finger at the players and boardroom.

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Speaking this morning on talkSport, McCoist said: “First thing I can say is, hopefully he can get some sanity back in his life and go and enjoy himself and relax with his family for a period.

“That’s the one thing, looking at Neil, that he needs and wants – so that’s the most important thing.

“He needs to spend some time away from the pressure that is being an Old Firm manager.

“But in terms of the decision itself, I’m not overly surprised at all. I think the way the season has gone for Celtic this year has effectively been one disaster after another, and there are a lot of people responsible for that.

“Neil, being the manager, is obviously one of them, but the people above him as well, and indeed the players have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility.

“It was a massive, massive year for them, and it looks like clearly the league has gone – and the league was the big one.

“Everybody at Celtic wanted the magical figure of ten, but for some time now it hasn’t looked like that is going to be the case.

“I’ve always felt there’s been – not from Neil, I may add – an element of arrogance coming from Celtic; they thought it was just a formality to win ten in a row.

“And clearly that hasn’t been the case, and supporters are very, very angry – and it’s cost Neil his job.

“As I said, the news this morning has not come as a major surprise at all.”

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