BRENDAN Rodgers’ shock omission from the three man shortlist for the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award has been branded “bizarre” by former Celtic striker John Hartson.
Rodgers’ team are currently three points clear at the top of the cinch Premiership with four games remaining and are through to the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final later this month.
Hartson feels the Northern Irishman is on the verge of an achievement that will rank alongside any of those he oversaw during his first spell in charge at Parkhead given the opposition there was to his appointment last summer as well as the off-field issues he has had to contend with this season.
However, the former Swansea City, Liverpool and Leicester City manager is not among the contenders for the PFA Scotland award – only Derek McInnes of Kilmarnock, John McGlynn of Falkirk and Tony Docherty of Dundee are in the running for that honour.
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“I am surprised by that,” said Hartson at the annual golf day for his charity foundation at Turnberry yesterday.
“Okay, it’s not been a scintillating season like he’s had before, like the season where they were completely unbeaten. And I know they can’t win the treble. But Celtic lost a few players in the summer and I don’t think the recruitment was great in January. There could have been a few more players come in.
“He asked for quality. Every time you listened to Brendan doing interviews, especially after the Champions League games, he spoke about quality. We haven’t got enough quality, we need quality.
“I think Idah (Norwich City loanee Adam) has done really well, he has scored some big goals. But I was surprised they didn’t give him a bit more funds. Obviously that has to do with the board anyway.
“But if he wins the league in his first season back I think that’s a huge achievement, I really do. If you think of the job Philippe Clement has done. Rangers went on a terrific run and lost one game in 19.
“I am a little bit surprised that he is not in the running. I think it is a bit bizarre. What if Celtic were to go and win the league or do the double?”
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He continued: “John McGlynn has done well at Falkirk to win League One. Derek McInnes has done an excellent job at Kilmarnock, they have taken three results off Celtic this season. Tony Doc as well has done a terrific job at Dundee to get top six. It is nothing against them. I admire the jobs they have done.
“But I do feel if Brendan Rodgers or Philippe Clement, who had to come in and deal with all the Michael Beale palaver and improve the players so much, was to win the league it would be a great achievement. I am surprised neither of them is included in the three that are nominated.
“I think it will be a huge achievement if Celtic win the league. There was a little bit of discontent when Brendan came in. But I thought he was the best man for the job, I was all in favour of bringing him back. I would say 90 per cent of people were as well.
“If he goes and wins the league, considering they lost Jota and Liel Abada and didn’t add a lot in January, it would be a huge achievement.”
“John Hartson was speaking at his annual golf day at Turnberry for his foundation. The Hartson Foundation has raised awareness and made several donations to cancer charities all around Scotland for more than a decade.”
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