RYAN CHRISTIE insists NO Celtic stars said they wanted to leave last season despite Neil Lennon’s claims.
The Scotland international was part of the Hoops squad that endured a trophyless campaign as they missed out on 10-in-a-row.
And he ultimately left the Parkhead club last summer as he made the move to English Championship side Bournemouth.
It was a season that saw Neil Lennon sacked as Celtic manager as the team slipped further and further behind Rangers in the table.
The Northern Irishman hit out at his players in the very first month of the campaign as he insisted any of them who wanted to leave could do so.
He said at the time: “Some of you don’t want to be here? Leave. I just want the players who want to be here.”
Christie was one of several players, including Kris Ajer and Odsonne Edouard, who had been linked with moves away from Celtic.
But he admits it was tough for him to hear as no one in the dressing room had said they wanted to move on.
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He told Football Scotland: “It was tough because, number one, I don’t think anyone had stated they were absolutely desperate to leave at that point.
“A few people had maybe had offers in like Premier League or elsewhere that was promising for them.
“It was so early in the season where it’s a bit different for Celtic when you have such important games at the start of the season that it means you have to be focused straight away.
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“That’s when the transfer market takes over a little bit at the start of the season.
“Did it have to be said? I’m not so sure. I think everyone was desperate to get a result.
“Everyone in our squad was firing on all cylinders to try and get through.
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“Had we got into the Champions League that season I’m sure that would have steadied some players’ heads about leaving because that’s an attraction itself.
“People probably look back at those comments now and think, ‘That’s where it started going wrong so early’ but we took it as a minor blip.
“It was frustrating but it was still early and in our minds we were still thinking we’ll go on to have a successful season.”