Former Celtic star Mark Wilson has lifted the lid on Neil Lennon 's previous no-nonsense approach in the wake of the shock blast aimed at his wantaway stars.
The former Hoops right-back was a key man under the Irishman during his first spell in charge and claimed his former boss once told a key player he would never player again for the Hoops.
Wilson admits it didn't come to pass but he reckons Lennon may have used his latest barbed message to get a reaction out of his toiling side in the wake of their shock Champions League defeat to Ferencvaros.
The 49-year-old cut a dejected figure at the final whistle and made it clear any player who didn't want to remain with the Premiership champions was free to leave.
Speaking to Superscoreboard, Wilson said: "I think Neil Lennon's comments were strong.
"I've been in a dressing room, I've been in a situation where Neil openly says a player wasn't going to play for the club again.
"And it did give the player a kick up the backside, as they went on to play a lot of games and score a lot of goals for Celtic."
But Wilson believes Lennon shouldn't be slammed for going public with the players who have been "bugging" him over an alleged desire to move on.
And the former Scotland international reckons the Celtic faithful will receive the answers they are waiting for when the team is announced before Sunday's clash with Motherwell.
He added: "Last night, his emotions are that raw, what is he to do? If Neil knows something, (why should he) keep it in house? And take the flak himself.
"I think managers can take flak but I think if something is bugging him that much and he can see things being let down, and it being a long time in the running, then why can he not be honest?
"Why can't he call these players out? To either make them better, to knuckle down and think 'right ok, I've been called out here'
"The proof will be in the pudding in the next starting line-up, or the next Europa League squad, because if he names the same players again then the manager needs to take the fall."
