JOHN HARTSON insists the Celtic players should be EMBARRASSED by their tame surrender of their title in a wretched season.
The final Premiership table shows the nine-in-a-row champions trailing in an unacceptable and inexplicable 25 points adrift of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit.
It is the biggest winning margin the Govan club have ever had over the Parkhead men, even topping the massive 21 points held by Dick Advocaat’s team during the disastrous eight-month reign of John Barnes in season in 1999/2000.
Former Hoops hitman Hartson reacted to his old club as they completed a truly dire campaign with a dismal scoreless performance against Hibs at Easter Road where skipper Scott Brown brought down the final curtain on his 14-year career at the club.
The Welsh international legend and club great believes serious questions must now be asked of the Parkhead flops as a massive summer of upheaval is looming.
Hartson, speaking to the Go Radio Football Show, said: “Celtic will certainly be feeling it. Whatever way you want to weigh it up this season, Celtic have just not been on the level of Rangers right from the off.
“Rangers sort of put a marker down and went from strength to strength.
“Let’s look at the stats for a minute; conceded 13 goals, not been beaten, beaten Celtic four times, knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup and they have just one from strength to strength.
“They have added players as well through and the recruitment was very good at the start of the season, and for me you can’t take anything away from them.
“I have to say, as a former Celtic player, I don’t like it, but I’m impartial enough to give players and a manager credit where it is due.
“There is no doubt about it Rangers have been the best side, not just by a little bit, but by a country mile. It’s 25 points.
“If I was a Celtic player I’d be embarrassed, I’d be embarrassed with that sort of result.”
Hartson added: “Celtic now have to respond. The fear is with the Celtic supporters; football isn’t a switch.
“You can’t just turn it on and turn it off and say this will be good this year. You’ve got to work at it.
“You’ve got to have the togetherness, the desire and buy the right type of players, like Celtic have shown over the past nine years.
“They have been remarkable, but they have to respond.”
BROWN AND OUT IN NO-SCORE SNORE
