Celtic legend Davie Hay has leapt to the defence of chief executive Peter Lawwell.

Hay, who is current a club ambassador, but had spells as both player and manager at Celtic Park, believes the fans who unveiled banners criticising Lawwell, Dermot Desmond and the board during Celtic's 1-1 draw against Ross County last week, were harsh.

Writing in his column for the Glasgow Evening Times, Hay explained the huge difference in recruiting players compared to the 1990s when he was the chief scout at the club:

"I felt that the criticism directed towards the board and to Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond in particular crossed the line into a personal attack."

"I like to think that I can call it as I see it and my honest belief is that Lawwell is the best chief executive the club has had."

"I don’t say that lightly, I don’t say it to curry any kind of favour – I don’t need to – but I say it because it is a genuine belief."

"You do have to place the club in its current context. Ronny Deila was in Manchester on Tuesday night at the Manchester City game – but you can guarantee there isn’t a chance Celtic will ever bring in a player from that kind of first-team environment again."

"Celtic won’t turn up at the quarter-final of a European tournament to scout an established player, so you have to be smart with how the network operates."

Celtic are on the verge of winning their fifth league title in a row and could even seal the Scottish Premiership this weekend if they beat Hearts tomorrow and Aberdeen lose or draw against Motherwell.

If Celtic do slip up this weekend though, they may have to face a tricky encounter against the Dons next week, although it's unlikely they will be able to catch the Bhoys, who are nine points ahead with four games to go.

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']