EXCLUSIVE: ‘TIME FOR CELTIC TO BE UNITED,’ BIG YOGI

CELTIC legend John ‘Yogi’ Hughes is backing Neil Lennon’s call for harmony in what could turn out to be another historic campaign for the Parkhead men.

The club’s seventh-highest scorer with 189 goals was as stunned as anyone when the Hoops toppled out of the Champions League to unseeded Ferencvaros in Glasgow last midweek.

The shattering loss will cost Celtic a potential £30million after failing to make the lucrative group stages for the third consecutive season following their other flops against the Greeks of AEK Athens and Romanians of Cluj in previous years.

Hughes is convinced Lennon will find the answers to push the team to a phenomenal tenth successive championship.

The powerhouse winger, now 77, told CQN in an EXCLUSIVE interview: “This is the team for Celtic to be united. There may be players affected by transfer speculation, but they must show loyalty to the club while they are at Parkhead.

“These guys must get their concentration sorted and they have to realise their obligations to one of the biggest sporting institutions in the world.

“They should look at their bank balance and remember who is paying their wages and who paid their wages last year.

“This is a massive season for the club and we cannot afford to be derailed by off-the-field issues. The players must get themselves into the correct frame of mind for what lies ahead.

“They have a chance to make glorious history at Celtic and write their names into the club’s folklore forever.

“There have already been some unscheduled stumbles and we are not even out of the first month of the season.

“But, looking at the situation positively, we can only accept that as a false start and not a falter with the finishing line in sight.

“The manager has time to put things right and steady the ship to face the storms ahead.

“This is the time for every true Celtic man – official, player or fan – to stand side-by-side and get the job done.

“Failure is not an option.”

*TOMORROW: Big Yogi continues his look at Celtic 2020/21.