Former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs insists that Brendan Rodgers has been let down badly by the club's hierarchy as well as the recruitment policy.

Stubbs has watched as his former employers have been overhauled at the top of the table by Philippe Clement's Rangers who lead the Premiership title race by two points. The Scouser reckons that Celtic blew a golden opportunity to keep the boot on Rangers throats by failing to sign the kind of quality that the manager craved both in the summer and the January transfer windows.

Whilst players were brought into the club Stubbs believes that many of them just aren't up to scratch and won't cut it a massive club like Celtic. With head of recruitment Mark Lawwell, being placed on gardening leave last week, Stubbs admits that he's been taken aback by Celtic's failure to be proactive in the market since Rodgers returned for a second managerial stint in Glasgow. He reckons that the champions' reluctance to splash the cash, especially in January, could well come back to bite them come May.

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The 52-year-old said: "I am surprised but I am also not because of Celtic's lack of activity in the transfer window. I think Celtic have been in a really strong position the last few years because they have been so much better than Rangers not just on the pitch but also off the pitch.

"I think they've thought that they were good enough with what they've had rather than keep driving forward. I think sometimes they have taken chances with players from a very different market that they'd normally deal in. Some of the signings have been huge successes. Some have not been. That is down to recruitment and when Celtic had the chance to strengthen and put the sword to Rangers in January they were found wanting.

"They never got what they wanted and if whatever targets they identified didn't become available then so be it. That happens in football but you also have to plan for that and it is as if Celtic have just said we haven't got them and done nothing about it. I think we all understand and realise that Brendan was surely given assurances when he came back that this was going to happen (sign quality players). That hasn't happened.

"I think looking at Brendan's body language you can see that he can't come out and say it but he has to do what he can with this group of players until the end of the season. I think once he gets to the end of the season you will see a lot of changes at Celtic, irrespective of what happens and I believe Brendan will give recommendations to the board that there are a lot of players in that squad whom he will want to be moved on. I am just not sure what direction the club is going in right now. The fans are asking a lot of questions. I think there is a section of Celtic supporters who are disgruntled not just in terms of the way the team are playing but with the recruitment policy as a whole.

"Would they be wrong in saying these things? No, I can see exactly why they are disgruntled."

With Callum McGregor set to miss this weekend's Scottish Cup quarter-final clash against Livingston at Parkhead due to an Achilles and a calf injury problem, Stubbs reckons that there is a lack of leaders in the green and white side at present. The former Everton stopper is not convinced that many Celtic players have covered themselves in glory or stepped up to the plate when it mattered most this season. Stubbs went as far as to say that he can count just three members of Rodgers's current squad whom he would label as Celtic class.

Celtic Way:

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He said: "When you look at Celtic over the last number of players they have had big game players. Callum McGregor is the leader in that pack. There are one or two others then I'm struggling.

"You look at a Celtic team from five years ago and you say there is a lot of leaders in there. This is where when you haven't got Callum McGregor there who for me is head and shoulders above anybody in terms of being a leader then that creates a big void. Celtic then have to ask who is going to step up to the plate. I think Celtic have got three players who are Celtic class. The rest I am thinking are okay. I think that's where Celtic have fallen short in not driving forward.

"Cameron Carter-Vickers is one when I look along the back-line as he is a standout. I think he needs a partner, a good partner and Celtic needs a left-back as they need competition in that position. It tells you everything you need to know that Kyogo was a breath of fresh air under Ange Postecoglou but he doesn't look the same player this season for whatever reason. I know he has had a couple of injuries, the style of play and he looks completely off it.

"Reo Hatate has been a huge loss too. I'm not sure they are the big characters I am talking about. I think they have been influential in terms of their play, however in terms of having a huge personality as a foreign or Asian player in the Celtic dressing room that's been difficult for a lot of them this season."

Despite all of that, Stubbs has faith in Rodgers's men to win the title race and clinch three in a row as well as earn the potential £60 million Champions League bounty that comes with it. He still makes Celtic the favourites to pip their Glasgow rivals to the flag because they have the experience of being over the course and distance before.

Stubbs said: "When I look at it, Rangers have had a good season up until now, but I still think Celtic are favourites for the title race because they have been there and done it before. I think it is going to be close. When we look at characters who are going to be able to deal with the pressure. There are players at Celtic and more at Rangers who have not encountered this before.

"People will say you are only saying that because you played for Celtic. I am saying it because I still think Celtic have the better and slightly stronger squad from one to 11."

Alan Stubbs was promoting Viaplay's live and exclusive coverage of Celtic v Livingston and Hibernian v Rangers on Sunday. Viaplay is available to stream from viaplay.com or via your TV provider on Sky, Virgin TV, and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.