Celtic hero John Hartson in Brendan Rodgers U-turn over Leicester exit after Hoops boss ‘made a fool’ out of him
JOHN HARTSON was one of Brendan Rodgers’ harshest critics when he left for Leicester in 2019.
Now the Celtic hero insists he will move forward and forget the past and has urged fellow supporters to do the same following the gaffer's re-appointment.
Hoops fans have mixed views on the manager’s return with many delighted to see him back whilst others feel they can’t trust him after he departed midway through the season four years ago.
Rodgers was branded a “rat” for leaving the club in shock fashion during the 2018/19 campaign, and a section of the support haven’t forgiven him just yet.
Speaking in the aftermath of his controversial exit, Hartson admitted that he felt personally let down by the Northern Irishman and claimed the boss "made a fool out of him".
He said: “Brendan let a lot of people down. And I feel that I am one of them. He sucked me in. He sucked a lot of people in.
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"He made a fool of me. Here I am telling every man and his dog that Brendan is loving his life in Glasgow, that he is loving Celtic and he wants to stay for ten.
"I know Brendan. I got to know him years ago at Swansea, so it’s not just a new relationship for me. But he had the wool over my eyes. So I am looking forward to bumping into him at Leicester.”
Now the Welshman has performed a U-turn on the newly appointed Celtic gaffer following his furious comments in the aftermath of his shock departure four years ago.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Hartson said: "I think we were all guilty of giving Brendan Rodgers a bit of stick and saying some harsh words when he left Celtic for Leicester City in 2019. I said at the time that it felt like he had pulled the wool over my eyes and that he had let the Celtic family down.
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"That was because everyone connected with the club were all so disappointed at losing such a brilliant manager. Some fans will be disgruntled that Brendan is back for a second spell at Celtic Park. But that was then and this is now.
"You are always going to get some supporters who will be disgruntled but it's about moving forward and forgetting the past. Of course some people don't want to forget the past and they can hang on to a grudge."
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