Outgoing Celtic Star Slaps Down McAuley and Tainted Brigade

JONNY HAYES might not be a Celtic player anymore but he is still a Celtic fan and when he was asked about certain comments in the media about Celtic’s title – he was happy to set the record straight.

The Irishman knows Gareth McAuley personally – he was part of the latest wave of trying to diminish Celtic’s win but Hayes wasn’t having it.

The former Celt put these comments down to a lack of common sense or bravado in public while knowing in private what had transpired this season.

Hayes believes the gap was going to get bigger and the fact the league was called when it was let their rivals off the hook.

“I can’t see why it would be tainted or have an asterisk. Maybe I’m biased but for me it beggars belief.” Hayes told RecordSport.

“I don’t want to upset too many people but if I was a Rangers fan I would have wanted it finished because the gap would have been bigger – 20 points in my opinion.

“I know Big G (McAuley) as we were at Leicester together back in the day and we met up a few times when he was here.

“We have a few mutual friends and he was just playing up to the media a little bit. I know there has been a lot of noise but I had the conversation with friends who are Rangers fans and they told me they wanted it called.

“They said there is no way they would have caught Celtic and that’s just common sense. I know people have to say certain things but behind closed doors I’m sure the conversation has been about how there was no way they’d have caught Celtic.

“I felt as a team we were getting better as the season went on. For me, it was nailed on. There was never any doubt and no questions over it.

“The goal I scored at Ibrox at the start of the season to seal the win probably would have given us extra belief going back there because we were better in March than September.

“I’ve had a few texts about that goal. It was big at the time because both teams had a perfect record and we went there quietly confident. In certain games last season it suited us playing away from home.”

Jonny spent three seasons at Celtic and became a utility player for both Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon. The midfielder’s contract was up this summer and with so much up in the air, Celtic decided not to give him a new deal. He can be delighted with his own contributions this season on helping bring nine in a row home.

We wish Jonny all the best on finding a new club, he won’t be out the game for long.