CRAIG ABUSE IS ‘APPALLING’
HIBS v CELTIC
FROM BACK PAGE is adamant his former foe did not deserve the abuse he received in the last few weeks in the job.
The Hearts’ Foundation Plaza was spray-painted with Levein Out before the axe fell while ex-Gorgie players have lined up to put the boot in.
Celtic boss Lennon said: “It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth the way some people have behaved towards him considering what he’s given to the club.
“He deserves a certain amount of respect. The job means everything to us – we’re professionals. We live our lives 24-7. We give our all and sometimes it doesn’t happen.
“The vitriol at the minute in the game, certainly up here, is appalling – the way managers and players are criticised and abused.
“It gets very personal. These people don’t know Craig, they don’t know what he’s done, they have short memories.
“The graffiti on Foundation Plaza was appalling. I know from my own experience that they like a bit of graffiti around the place.
“It’s a sign of the times. It’s really tacky. Some of the punditry aimed at Craig has been personal and I think that’s unprofessional as well.
“I hope he comes again, put it that way.”
Lennon felt Levein got a raw deal after his squad was decimated by injuries to key players over the last 12 months.
He said: “I’m really disappointed for him as the club meant so much to him and the job meant so much to him.
“I don’t know if there was an inevitability about it based on results but there were mitigating circumstances. He’s had a lot of important players injured since this time last year when they were flying.
“You think of the longterm injuries they’ve had to Steven Naismith and John Souttar and now Craig Halkett and Conor Washington. There’s no question that those four would make Hearts a better team.”
Lennon’s focus is on his side’s Betfred Cup semifinal showdown with Hibs at Hampden this evening but he admits he’s also plotting to safeguard Celtic’s long-term future.
James Forrest and Scott Bain this week penned new deals and the manager revealed he’s now determined to secure stars such as Callum McGregor and Kristoffer Ajer on extended contracts.
Lennon said: “I’m very happy to get Scott tied up and to be working with him for the next few years and I’m happy for him.
“He has made great progress since he has been here, so I’m really pleased.
“I’ve got three top quality goalkeepers and I think he’ll relish the environment.
“We’re talking to one or two players so hopefully we can get those contracts over the line soon.
“Callum is one of them, he’s an important player and it would be good to get him tied down too.
“It’s important to have your core and the core players here have been outstanding for the last three seasons. Jamesy has been a fundamental part of that, as has Scott.
“Kris is one we might look at. He has played nearly all the games since I’ve been in and I’m very happy with him.
“These players are assets too. There will be admirers out there with the way they are playing.
“It’s a bit of protection for us as well as settling down the players if they’re getting agitated by a little bit of speculation.”
NEIL LENNON reckons he could throw the captain’s armband into Celtic’s dressing room and there would be a number of his main men diving to catch it.
But if the Hoops boss is forced to hand it out at Hampden this evening then he knows exactly where it’s going.
Scott Brown isn’t going to let go of his grip just yet but the skipper is a major injury doubt for tonight’s Betfred Cup last-four clash with Hibs.
Lennon is hoping to have his inspirational leader on the field but if not then he has no doubt in his mind Callum McGregor will step into the general’s boots.
The Parkhead manager doesn’t just see McGregor as a potential stand-in skipper today – he reckons the playmaker is a stick-on successor to Brown in the long-term.
Lennon said: “I would have no qualms handing Callum the armband. I see him as a natural successor to Browny in that regard, when the time comes.
“His performance levels over the years have been so consistent and he’s playing as well as ever at the minute.
“We have two or three captains in that dressing room.
“Chris Jullien could do it, Kris Ajer takes responsibility, James Forrest is a bit quieter and I don’t think he fancies it!
“But there’s a few who wouldn’t shy away from taking the armband.”
Lennon’s side have a hectic schedule with the League Cup semi quickly followed by Lazio away in the Europa League.
But there’s no chance of one of his leading men choosing to take a backward step.
That’s what Lennon loves about McGregor. The Scotland ace isn’t just a good player –he’s one of his best every single week.
The Hoops gaffer said: “Callum’s consistency is not something I take for granted.
“People just expect him to be a seven or eight out of 10 every week. That’s not an easy thing to m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk do and I admire him for it. I admire his professionalism because he’s playing at a really high level while there has been interest in him.
“When you are playing well you want to keep the momentum going but I spoke to him on Tuesday, asking him if he wanted a wee break.
“He said, ‘No, I want to keep going.’ That was the answer I expected because when you are playing well, you want to stay in the groove.”
Celtic are also in their groove but the same can’t be said about Lennon’s former club Hibs.
The Easter Road men are limping on the road to Hampden having failed to win a match in 90 minutes since the opening day of the season.
Lennon won’t be fooled by the grim run though.
He said: “I don’t think they have been that bad.
“They could have won some of the games, they missed decent opportunities but could have lost a couple along the way as well.
“They are better than the league table shows. People ask if complacency will be the biggest factor. It’s not. Hibs are the biggest factor that will stop us going through. They have decent players there who I know.
“They dug out a result against Livingston, who we know are a decent team, and coming from two down might have given them a shot in the arm.
“But I can only talk about what we’re doing. We’ve been playing brilliantly and want to keep the momentum going.
“They don’t need motivating. A few of them have been here since the run started and it means a lot to them.”
Lennon has made Hampden
MICHAEL GANNON