LISBON LION Bertie Auld has called for Celtic to appoint a manager who will bring "entertainment and laughter" back to the supporters.
Auld admitted feeling uncomfortable at Parkhead last Sunday as supporters voiced their displeasure towards the board in the wake of their William Hill Scottish Cup defeat by Rangers, which prompted Ronny Deila to announce he was stepping down as manager.
Celtic stretched their lead in the Ladbrokes Premiership to nine points, but were booed off after a 1-1 draw with Ross County. However, it was chief executive Peter Lawwell and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond who were mainly in the firing line after two seasons out of the Champions League. And Auld believes they need to appoint a strong manager who understands the club's traditions.
The European Cup winner, who was launching the latest search for Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees, said: "It's very unlike the Celtic supporters to show their feelings like that.
"Playing way back when I did, you knew you'd get the support, Celtic supporters were always passionate for their own team and always encouraged their own team. In our day, when you didn't have substitutes, they were our substitutes because they gave you a lift.
"Sunday was one of those days you felt uncomfortable because there was so much strain because of the situation with the manager. He brought the title to us last season, but we haven't been entertaining. That's one thing the Celtic supporters are used to. Big Jock [Stein] used to say to us when we were going out the dressing room: 'Entertain. You have the ability or you wouldn't be here. Entertain'. And that's what we are short of at this time.
"I signed in '55 and my dad said to me out on the park, I was 16-years-of-age, 'Listen Bertie, see if you can play and entertain, this support will never ever forget you'. Another thing he said, and my dad was a brickie's labourer, was that the Celtic reserve team today will be the first team tomorrow. We have lost that a little bit. Let's get back to basics. We need someone who is going to bring laughter to the terraces. We need someone who can coach and get discipline."
Auld also hopes the new manager insists on full control of the signing policy: "According to Ronny, he did," the former Hibernian and Partick Thistle manager said.
"But at the clubs I managed, I made it straight there and then that I bring in the players and I let players go because I'll get my sack on my own decisions rather than someone else's. Let the man bring in who he wants. We need fresh faces, we need people who can be winners in the dressing room and on the park."
Auld feels the recent recruitment has not proved value for money: "You couldn't criticise them on the amount of money that's been spent on players coming in," he said.
"But you can criticise them for the ability they have. Remember what Jock said about the strip: it doesn't shrink for inferior players. All you have to do is look at the ones that have gone out on loan."
Fans can log on to www.sfmhalloffame.co.uk and nominate their choice for the 2016 inductees.
