‘Disrespectful’ Ajer slammed after Kennedy reveal and Celtic told to ‘get rid now’ – Whelan
Wantaway Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer has treated the club with utter contempt over the past year and should be sold as soon as possible.
That is according to ex-Scottish Premiership striker Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Ajer’s man of the match display in the 1-0 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun after the win, interim boss John Kennedy said of Kennedy: “I’ve no doubt that there will be interest in him. He’s still very young and he’s an international player.”
Football Insider revealed in August that Ajer was among a group of Celtic players looking to fashion an exit but a move away from Parkhead never materialised.
Whelan has been thoroughly unimpressed with Ajer’s handling of the situation and insists that he should be shown the door at the next possible opportunity.
He told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs: “Once you’ve shown the cards in your hand, that’s it. It’s as simple as that.
“If he wanted to leave at the beginning of the season when they’ve just won the Premiership, what’s he gonna be like now when they’re going to finish 2nd, 18 points behind Rangers?
“I’m not being funny but if people want to jump ship, let them go at the beginning of the year. To me, that’s disrespectful to a club that’s just won the cup and the league and were then going for 10-in-a-row.
“You’re wanting to jump ship and leave when you’ve just won all that? Straight away I’d have said: ‘Wow, okay, get rid of him. Get shot of him now. If you don’t want to be at this football club, fine.’
“I very much doubt that he’d want to stay now after having such a bad season. Straight away, I’d have let him go. Anyone that says they want to leave a football club is not worthy of being there.”
Celtic trail league leaders and fierce rivals Rangers by 15 points in the league.
Rangers need just seven points to mathematically secure the title and could claim the crown at Celtic Park on 21 March.
In other news, Eddie Howe’s stance on taking the vacant managerial job at Celtic has been revealed.