Before I get started, I want to make it clear. I have a lot of time for John Hartson. I like his punditry and his columns are in general, pretty much spot on. He defends the Scottish game and also defends Celtic where need be and he is not afraid to give his honest opinion. For me, he is quite refreshing in his style which is why his latest column is puzzling.
Hartson has responded to Neil Lennon’s comments regarding the big Welshman’s column where he claimed Lennon’s time is up and there needs to be a clearout at Celtic Park. Now, not many will disagree with that statement but on the flip side, not many would disagree with Lennon’s reply.
Put it this way, if your mate came out on a national newspaper and said you should be sacked, you are not very well going to call him up and say, “Thanks mate, you’re right. Do you have any other feedback I can take on board?”. Lennon will see Hartson’s remarks as a mate who’s turned his back in him for the sake of earning a coin. There is only one person who should be “hurt and disappointed” John, and it’s not you matey.
Hartson has said he is “hurt and disappointed” by Lennon’s comments as his press conference, “Neil said my opinion doesn’t matter to him and that’s up to him.
“But I was only giving my honest opinion on how things are at Celtic.
“To be honest, I’m hurt and disappointed that he’s chosen to come out and have a go at me. Listen, he’s clearly a man under severe pressure so it’s maybe understandable.
“He’s only human and it must be difficult to handle everything that’s going on right now. But he’s got to know that I wasn’t having any personal dig at him. Far from it, because I’ve been arguably his biggest supporter down the years.”
If John really thought Lennon was not going to fire back at him for that column, maybe he doesn’t really know the Celtic manager at all?