Craig Gordon reckons Celtic's success under Brendan Rodgers has been 'eroded' away and their title collapse this season was inevitable.
The reigning Premiership champions are set to come up short in their Ten in a Row bid as Rangers hold a 20 point lead over their rivals.
The Parkhead club's have suffered a nightmare season and their regression has been stark after a dominant nine years in Scotland.
But former Celtic keeper Gordon believes he saw it coming as there are hardly any of the players left from Rodgers' reign and the new recruits in the summer needed to arrive sooner in order to achieve a smoother transition.
Speaking on Sportscene, the Hearts goalie said: "I think it's been a gradual thing.
"The team that was invincible under Brendan Rodgers has been eroded away.
"There are only a few guys left, the guys that are still there have aged four or five years since then and it's been something that's been coming.
"I think players needed to have been brought in earlier to realise what the club was all about to then step into the shoes of these (older) players.
"It's been something that has been coming, I think the more senior guys in there would have probably realised that.
"They were desperate to try and hold on for the 10 and make sure that happened but it really doesn't look like that's going to be the case now."
