NEIL LOVING THEPRESSURE

from fans’ group the Green Brigade was held up outside the stadium yesterday morning, which read: “Save the Ten – Time to go Neil.”

Lennon made it clear that he has no intention of walking away from his post and said: “Absolutely not.

“Look, if things deteriorated, you might have to hold your hands up. But, at the minute, I’ve no intentions of quitting.

“I don’t think I need to. I don’t think I even need to think about it.

“It’s all the outside noise that’s affecting other people. It’s not affecting me.

“I don’t feel under any pressure at all. I don’t feel that I should be under any pressure either. We have lost one game in the league this season.”

Asked if he still believed he was the man to lead the club to their 10th straight title, he added: “There’s no evidence to suggest that I can’t.”

In addressing the subject of the banner, Lennon insists he is totally committed to achieving more success and welcomes some of the aggravation – as it builds his strength.

Lennon said: “You wouldn’t be human if it didn’t disappoint you. But I’m strong, I’m so motivated now and have the fire in the belly.

“I’m actually enjoying going through this adverse period, if you want to call it that. It makes you feel stronger.

“My backroom staff are the same and the players are hopefully taking on board what we’re asking of them. They know they have a lot more to come.

“There is a lot of hysteria and panic – but it is not coming from us and it’s not coming from inside the club.

“You are going to get outside opinions and voices and I can’t argue with it, I can’t disagree or agree with it.

“It’s just there and I don’t engage with it. There are always

BACKING Peter Lawwell challenges as a manager you always have to face.

“It can’t always be rose gardens. You have to come through a little bit of adversity at times.

“Fans are entitled to voice their opinion. Whether I agree with it or not, that’s irrelevant.

“They put it out there. It’s something I’m not going to really engage with. I’ve got a job to do. I think I’ve done it pretty well since I came back in.

“I’ve sort of reconciled myself to the fact that maybe I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s a great privilege doing this job and I feel strong.

“Look, the fans want what I want. I want the same. I can understand there is a sense of frustration surrounding this season with the fact they can’t be at the games to see the team.

“But we’ve made a better start than in previous seasons. We’re chasing our tail a bit but there is a long way to go.

“I have great faith in what I’m doing, what my backroom team are doing and what the players will do going forward.”

Lennon has regular dialogue with club chiefs Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell.

He has their backing and doesn’t feel either would be influenced by things such as banners or outside noise as he added: “No, I don’t think they ever are.

“I speak to Peter every day and I speak to Dermot once or twice a week. Obviously, we are all in the same fight.

“We know we are a little bit inconsistent but we have great belief that we will go on a run.”