Brendan Rodgers PFA Manager of The Year snub 'bizarre' as Celtic hero can't get head around it

John Hartson reckons it is bizarre that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has been snubbed for the PFA Manager of the Year award.

The shortlist of nominees was announced yesterday after the votes were cast by fellow managers and the three names in the frame are Derek McInnes (Kilmarnock), Tony Docherty (Dundee) and John McGlynn (Falkirk). It will be the first time since Steve Clarke in 2017/18 that the winner will come from a non-Old Firm manager.

Neither Glasgow side has found any real consistency over the course of the season and with both still in the running for the title, how successful their campaigns will or will not be is still up in the air. The Hoops could win a league and Scottish Cup double, but it's also conceivable they could end up with nothing.

Nevertheless, Hartson is still baffled to see Rodgers miss out on a nomination.

He said: "I am surprised by that. OK, it’s not been a scintillating season like he’s had before, like the season where they were completely unbeaten.

“And I know they can’t win the Treble. But Celtic lost a few players in the summer and I don’t think the recruitment was great in January. But if he wins the league in his first season back I think that’s a huge achievement.

“If you think of the job Philippe Clement has done, they have lost one game in 19 and been on a terrific run. The fact is they have dropped five points in two games recently against Ross County and Dundee.

“It has been that type of season, nobody has really owned it. I am a little bit surprised that he is not in the running. I think it is a bit bizarre.

“Derek McInnes has done an excellent job at Kilmarnock, they have taken three results off Celtic this season. Tony Doc as well has done a terrific job at Dundee to get top six. It is nothing against them.”

Hartson has urged the Hoops board to back their boss in the transfer market this summer. After a poor Champions League performance last year, he feels bringing in proven quality is imperative.

He added: "It’s important the Celtic board backs Brendan this summer — and I think they will. They all saw the disappointing Champions League campaign.

“And I think they’ll now listen to the fact he was talking about bringing in real quality in January. I’m not saying they go and spend £10million on a player because that’s not really Celtic’s way.

“They did it with Odsonne Edouard a few years ago and previously in years gone by with big money on the likes of myself, Chris Sutton, Neil Lennon and Alan Thompson.

“I just think clubs these days are holding on to their purse strings much more. But I still expect the board to back Brendan, and I think they have to.

“They need to help him get to the second phase of the Champions League because in recent years it’s been awful, it really, really has. It’s not done yet, but there could be extra money coming in if they win the league.

“But there is money there now. And I really do think Brendan will get the backing he wants because that’s all you hear him say. In almost every interview since the January window he’s talked about bringing in quality.”