Players let Neil down but he will bounce back, says NI hero Gerry
NORTHERN Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong says he feels Neil Lennon’s pain after his Celtic exit.
Lennon resigned on Wednesday with Celtic 18 points adrift of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and Armstrong says the Hoops players let the Lurgan man down.
The former Northern Ireland midfielder took charge for a second spell in February 2019 when Brendan Rodgers left and led the club to two titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
However, Celtic are well behind their Glasgow rivals in their bid to win 10 straight titles and slumped to defeat at struggling Ross County last Sunday.
Assistant manager John Kennedy has taken interim charge of the team.
Lennon began his international career under the eye of Armstrong during his stint in charge of the Northern Ireland Under-21s.
After making his debut under Bryan Hamilton in 1994, Lennon went on to earn 40 caps before controversially retiring from international football in 2002 following death threats.
“I brought him into the Northern Ireland Under-21s after watching him at Crewe as a young full-back,” said Armstrong.
“I spoke to his agent and sent a message to him. Lenny was getting loads of stick but the players let him down.
“He’s looking into what he wants to do, he will look at what options come along.
“Neil was very successful and the problem was Rangers had improved so much under Steven Gerrard. Celtic lost their passion and desire. The players weren’t properly focused and that’s when problems start.
“Neil’s a good lad. He will persevere, he will bounce back.”
Celtic captain Scott Brown, meanwhile, believes there is still plenty of football to be played before he embarks on a coaching and management career.
The 35-year-old midfielder is coming to terms with the departure of Lennon.
Ex-hoops captain Stephen Mcmanus has been promoted from reserve team coach to the first team coaching staff but Brown insists any role like that is for the future.
Ahead of the visit of Aberdeen today, he said: “I am still too young for that.
“I am doing my coaching badges and I am learning quite a lot from John and the manager (Lennon) and other managers too. Now is not the right time for me to be jumping into becoming a player/coach or a coach or anything like that.
“I think I’ve still got a lot to offer on the field or with the lads on the training ground.”