“He’s not my best buddy pal” – Hartson’s amazing public rejection of former Celt

There has always been an accusation thrown at John Hartson when Neil Lennon was manager of Celtic that he wouldn’t dare to criticise him in the media when the team’s from was failing and the ten in a row dream was dying.

No matter the result, it always seemed that Hartson was at pains to avoid speaking against his former team mate at the beginning of the slide.

It wasn’t until the Ross County result (if my memory serves me correctly) that Hartson then publicly came out and said Lennon needed to go.

Hartson even admitted himself that he was getting criticised for backing Lennon to the hilt, “I’ve been Neil Lennon’s biggest supporter for a long time. I actually told Peter to give him the job the first time around, and I’ve got behind him more than any player, ex-player, teammate or member of the press.

“I’ve been the one to the detriment of getting a lot of criticism for backing Neil, but I said myself a few weeks ago when they went 21 points behind Rangers I think the whole thing needs a change.”

Speaking on Go Radio, a caller was speaking to the former Celtic striker about Ryan Christie when he suggested that the drop in form was due to Hartson’s “best buddy”. That drew an amazing response from the big Welshman,  “My best buddy? No, my best buddy is in Wales pal.

“Aww he’s not my best buddy. Far from it.

“I’ve got pals I grew up with in Swansea, they’re my best buddies.

“Team mates are acquaintance’s aren’t they?”

It was an incredible admission that reveals the depth of ill feeling between the two since Lennon left the Celtic job. It does seem there is some bad blood there and that the two definitely wont be sending each other Christmas cards this year!