Celtic B’s Lowland League season would go out with a bang against Albion Rovers at The Reigart Stadium, with Celtic emerging 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Rhys Dargie. The win means Celtic B finish the season second, seven points behind Mick Kennedy’s East Kilbride and seven ahead of third-placed Caledonian Braves.
What followed was a brief confrontation, during which Hayes was dismissed and several Rovers players received bookings
Hayes, who would join the Celtic B coaching staff alongside Stephen McManus, had a successful playing career at Celtic from 2017 to 2020, winning three league titles, two Scottish League Cups, and two Scottish Cups. This included scoring as a substitute in a 2-0 win at Ibrox in 2019, with a stoppage-time goal.
After leaving Celtic, Hayes returned to Aberdeen before retiring at the end of last season. He then joined the Celtic B coaching staff and has played a key role in a respectable campaign in the Lowland League during his first full-time coaching role.
Although not the perfect end to the season for Hayes, being sent off, the Irishman has shown that he has a future ahead of him as a coach, working closely alongside McManus, and he will have certainly learned a lot in just under a year working as a coach with the B team.
