GARY HOLT has slammed the Twitter trolls for the abuse they directed at Celtic star Ryan Christie on social media.
The midfielder closed down his Twitter account after taking pelters for his red card in the Hoops’ shock 2-0 defeat to Livingston a fortnight ago.
That result, coupled with Rangers’ 5-0 thumping of Hamilton later that day, saw Gers go top of the table for the first time in ten months.
Livi boss Holt had revealed he was stunned by the criticism aimed at Scotland midfielder Christie.
Holt said: “Ryan’s a young lad learning the game. He has massive potential and is a star in the making, if not so already.
“He mistimed a tackle and he’s getting castigated for it.
“I’ve got social media. Do I use it? Not really.
“It’s brutal and people don’t understand the effect it has. I’ve got kids and my kids read it.
“But it’s the nature of the beast. That’s what you have got to accept when you agree to sign up to these things. You are going to get that.
“Not everybody is going to blow smoke up your backside. Do I agree with that? No, I don’t. I think it’s totally unjust.
SECURITY FEARS Celtic fans face THREE ticket and passport checks at stadium for Lazio match
“It’s totally changed and you can’t do anything now. I still do, because it doesn’t bother me. I’ll give as good as I get.
“But I don’t take myself too seriously, to an extent. Maybe that’s what helps me.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m serious in my job.
“I’m serious about how the club does, about being the focal point of the club and how this club is vitally important to me.
related stories
“Me? I’m just a dad, a dad with weans who say I’m rubbish. It keeps things in reality for me. Social media is there now and it’s not going to go away.
“There are people who have signed up for it and made it a big platform. It’s the way the world is going.
“So if you don’t want to be open to getting severe abuse, which I don’t think you’d merit, don’t sign up for it.”