Former Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas has made no apologies for defending Neil Lennon on social media this week after criticism boiled over into protests outside Celtic Park.
Douglas claims he took a lot of flak for backing the manager, many saying it was an old pals act in full flow. Rab doesn’t refute he’s backing his former team-mate but does understand the frustrations surrounding this season.
However, the former goalkeeper believes there’s a massive lack of respect for Neil Lennon during this difficult time.
“I posted a picture on my Twitter account earlier this week of myself and Neil Lennon celebrating a victory en route to a Uefa Cup final.” Ran wrote on his Courier article.
“I read all the replies – and most of them were a mixture of positive messages and people making reasonable points about the current situation at Celtic.
“But my Twitter post was a personal way of me showing support for a friend who has supported me and my charity.
“He mixes with everybody at our events. It’s not just a Celtic thing.
“He’s a human being first and foremost and the reaction against him has been so over the top.
“As a bare minimum Neil Lennon deserves respect.
“Do people not think about all the things that Neil has had to go through in the past away from football? There are short memories on that front as well.
“I hear a lot about folk saying: “It’s only his old team-mates getting behind him.”
“But that what real team-mates and real friends do. And it was one of the big reasons we got to that Uefa Cup final in the first place!
“I would certainly take it on the chin to back my mate every day of the week.”
Chris Sutton was one of the last former teammates off the bandwagon when even he thought the manager’s time was up after the Ross County fiasco.
Douglas is still backing his pal to turn things around but at least he admits it’s down to him being good friends with Neil Lennon. He bases little argument for keeping the manager on merit other than being friends with him and past endeavours.
While the Celtic manager doesn’t say it outwardly, he will know he’s on borrowed time and he must move quick if he is to keep his job.
