FOUR IN ONE
NEIL LENNON admits his tight bond with a trio of outstanding Celtic managers has been invaluable to him through his second term in office.
The Parkhead interim boss was plunged into the deep end when Brendan Rodgers walked out of the club in February.
Lennon’s vast experience as a Celtic player and ex-manager meant he knew exactly what was required to ensure a smooth transition.
However, while he has the skills to do the job on his own, he doesn’t mind accepting it’s a huge help to have icons in his contact list to lean on.
Martin O’neill is available on the blower and Gordon Strachan is a constant source of advice and Rodgers has been in regular contact since heading south.
In many ways, if Celtic appoint Lennon to the job on a full-time basis, they’ll be getting four top-class managers for the price of one as he explained: “I spoke to Martin on Friday and I’ll probably have another catch up either Friday or Saturday morning. He’s pleased for me, put it that way.
“It’s normally me ringing Martin because he’s like Lord Lucan and disappears off the face of the earth for about seven years, but he’s great.
“I owe him a lot and I think he’s pleased to see me doing okay.
“I’ve spoken to Brendan. We normally talk before games or text each other, so I’m sure we’ll be in touch.
“He was delighted when we won the league and, if we do the Treble, he’ll be as delighted as anyone. I speak to Gordon regularly as well. To have that sort of shoulder to lean on now and again is brilliant.
“You value that stuff. Of course you do. Brendan, Martin, Gordon, they are the best people CHILLED-OUT Neil Lennon could be on the beach when his Celtic future is decided.
The Parkhead manager is ignoring the fevered discussions about his long-term job prospects as he concentrates fully on tomorrow’s Scottish Cup Final against Hearts.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, right, is set to push on with his permanent manager plans after the Hampden final.
Lennon, however, isn’t stressing and has made to speak with. They know what it’s like. They’ve travelled in these shoes before.”
Advice, of course, is all well and good. If you can’t use it or act on your own instincts and knowledge, it won’t be of much use.
To that extent, Lennon has proved himself adept at adjusting.
Adjusting back into life as the Celtic manager while also adjusting his own methodology and thought patterns to fit with a squad which he inherited as opposed to building himself.
Lennon has managed it with aplomb. Nine wins from 13 matches since his return, his victory ratio is better than that of Rodgers this term.
Having made sure the Premiership was secured, the interim’s second task was to get his team to Hampden for the showpiece where meet Craig Levine’s Hearts tomorrow.
Lennon’s more relaxed about arrangements to have a hard-earned holiday once the Final is over.
The interim manager is relaxed about the situation as he explained: “I’m going to Marbella on Monday for a few days for my mate’s 50th birthday.
“I’ll be around on Sunday, then away for three or four days. We’ll see what happens after that.
“I knew the situation and I’ve said it ad nauseam since I’ve been here. I’ve said it will be resolved after the cup final and it now. Back then, he felt as though he was being judged from game-to-game. Now it’s not about judgements. Not on his future on anything else.
It’s just about winning the trophy to complete a third-domestic Treble.
Lennon says he ignores outside noise and has urged his players to do the same as he plots a triumph.
He said: “Absolutely. That’s what it is, just noise. You have to play the game, not the occasion. To be fair to the players, they do it very well.
“The experience they have had will, hopefully, stand them in good stead. Every game is different, different circumstances, different opposition. But the premise is the same.
“I didn’t realise Celtic have never won the Scottish Cup three years in a row. That’s a great incentive to go and win it. They can add that to their already vast resume.” that hasn’t changed.
“If there’s communication, we can do it on Sunday, we can do it over the phone. Look, I’m not pre-empting anything, that’s pointless.
“What I’m telling you is my plan for after the cup final. Go away and see what happens.”
The gaffer admits the biggest weight was lifted off his shoulders when Eight in a Row was secured as he added: “I’m relaxed because the main part of the job has been done. There is still a bit to do, but it is for the players, it is not for me.
“I keep going back to it. It is not important for me to win the cup, it is important for the players to create their own legacy in the history of the club. That is very, very important.”
Lennon’s team are huge favourites to seal the Treble Treble at the National Stadium, but the boss is taking nothing for granted and said: “Hearts are a very difficult obstacle for us to overcome.”