FORMER Celtic player and manager Davie Hay has hit back at Charlie Nicholas for telling fans Celtic are lining up Neil Lennon to replace Brendan Rodgers.

Writing for his column in the Evening Times, Hay believes talk of anyone taking the reigns from Rodgers is very premature.

The former Celtic gaffer goes as far as to say it’s ‘inappropriate’ to be talking about such things when you have got a man in the job who has yet to lose a domestic trophy.

“I think it is inappropriate for anyone to talk at the minute of the possibility of Neil Lennon returning to the Celtic dugout any time soon.” he told the Evening Times.

“There has been a wee bit if chat around what would happen should Brendan Rodgers leave the club but I just think it is way too premature for any talk like that.”

Rodgers has been at the mercy of the Scottish press with everyone linking him with a move away from the job at some point since he came to Celtic.

From big jobs like Chelsea and Manchester United to not so big jobs like Villa and Newcastle.

The manager has not flinched and although Neil Lennon may be the Celtic manager again one day – that day isn’t now.