Ross County boss condemns ‘despicable’ Celtic Park scenes; backs Lennon

Ross County boss Stuart Kettlewell feels the chaotic scenes he witnessed outside Celtic Park following Sunday’s Betfred Cup clash were ‘despicable’.

The visitors won 2-0 thanks to goals by Ross Stewart and Alex Iacovitti. After the holders lost their first domestic cup game in 36 outings, hundreds gathered outside the stadium to vent their fury.

Bhoys boss Neil Lennon could hear fans calling for his removal as he walked into the post-match media conference.

The Parkhead club said in a later statement that some players were left “shaken” after being targeted by missiles. Police said three officers had suffered minor injuries, with footage showing some fans kicking down and throwing barriers.

Kettlewell and his players saw it all unfold as they waited on the team bus.

“We did have to get a police escort out of Parkhead and on to the motorway,” the Staggies boss said. “The police to my mind dealt with the situation very well, they were excellent.

“It is was absolutely despicable. The whole situation for me soured a brilliant day for our club. It was a great day for our club.”

Pressure has been mounting on Lennon after the Hoops’ uncharacteristically shoddy start to the season. They are 11 points behind Glasgow rivals Rangers in the league but do have two games in hand.

Celtic have lost just once in the top flight and Kettlewell urged all concerned to put things into perspective.

“We understand what it means to Celtic and how despondent their fans would be and their players and officials would be,” he added.

“It is football, we all know that that happens but you have to realise we are in the middle of a global pandemic here and some of the scenes I see sitting on the bus, watching police fighting and trying their damndest to stop guys breaking the perimeter barriers they set out was just despicable.”

Support for Lennon

Lennon has guided the Celts to five league titles while he also won the title five times as a player. And Kettlewell feels his achievements should not be forgotten by fans who are quick to pass judgement.

 

“What Neil Lennon has done for Celtic as a player, a captain and manager, I certainly think he deserves a hell of a lot more respect than what he and his players got on Sunday,” he added.

“I am not a Celtic official, I am not a Celtic supporter, Ross County is obviously my concern but I can only speak through sitting in that car park waiting to get away from Parkhead and it’s not scenes any of us want to see in Scottish football.”

 

READ MORE: Reasons behind move for Posh star revealed