THE Parkhead board will keep faith with new manager Ange Postecoglou even if Celtic fail to win the cinch Premiership this season, it was last night claimed by former striker John Hartson.

The Glasgow club fell four points behind Rangers in the top flight table on Sunday when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to bottom-placed Livingston in a league game at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Postecoglou’s men have now lost all three of their away matches in the Premiership in the 2021/22 campaign – and four of their last five fixtures.

Their latest disappointing result, which came as Scottish champions Rangers were held to a draw at Ibrox by Motherwell, has not gone down well with their supporters.

Celtic, who have taken nine points out of a possible 18, have made their worst start in the league in 23 years. 

However, Hartson believes the Greek-Australian coach, who took over after a calamitous trophyless season and then lost key personnel, will be given the time he needs to turn around their fortunes.

He thinks the former Yokohama F Marinos manager, who brought in 12 new players this summer, must be given more money to spend during the January transfer window. 

Celtic Way:

“Celtic want to win the league, but even if they don’t, I don’t think there will be any panic,” he said at his charity foundation’s golf day at Turnberry.

“The club trust Ange. We can’t put him under pressure after six league games. This club lost the league by 25 points last season and there’s been huge turnover. He needs at least another window.

“It is a transitional period. He needs backing, he needs a good window in January, to keep close to Rangers, to keep the pressure on. I’m sure Ange will highlight what he needs.

“I can’t say it wasn’t a bad result on Sunday – everyone knows it was a bad result. But once Celtic strengthen defensively and get a few players back, I am sure the results will improve.”

Hartson, who won the Scottish title three times during his five seasons as a player at Celtic, is confident the Premiership race will be far closer this season despite the latest loss.

“I don’t think there will be a 25 point gap,” he said. “I don’t think it is going to be that type of season. I don’t think anybody is going to run away with it, I really don’t.

“Rangers are huge favourites. They have kept almost every single player from last season almost. They haven’t sold anybody.

“But there were about 10 who have left Celtic, there are 12 who have come in and there is a new manager.

“They tried to get (Eddie) Howe and didn’t get him. Ange has come in, he has united the crowd, he has united the dressing room. I think he has done very well. He just needs time.

“The manager has come in at a difficult time. He’s brought in exciting players like Kyogo (Furuhashi) and (Liel) Abada and it’s still really early. It will come.”

 

John Hartson was speaking at The John Hartson Foundation Golf Day at Turnberry. The Hartson Foundation supports various cancer charities around the UK.