LENNON IN ZOOM SUMMIT
Lennon holds summit with Desmond and Lawwell But under-fire boss insists it wasn’t about his future
NEIL LENNON insists his future was not on the agenda during a Zoom summit with Celtic chiefs Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell.
The manager is under heavy fire following a nightmare run of two wins in nine games that has sent
Celts out of the Europa League and struggling to keep up with Premiership pace-setters Rangers.
A growing number of Hoops fans have called for Lennon to go and there was an online meeting between the boss, majority shareholder Desmond and chief executive Lawwell yesterday morning. But Lennon insisted he has the backing of the men who call the shots at Celtic Park.
He said: “It wasn’t a special army council meeting or a COBRA cabinet meeting. It was a normal call that we have. It was no big deal.
“We are going through a bad patch and we are looking for solutions to it.
“I speak to Dermot twice a week and I speak to Peter every day. We had another one on Friday morning.
“It was about, ‘Where can we improve things on and off the field for the players?’ We are totally united and we are determined that we will make this into a good season. It was a very productive conversation and I have their full support.
“They have been with me from day one, from the good times to what would be perceived to be a bad time.
“It’s hugely encouraging to get their support but it’s not surprising. I have a good relationship with them.
“They aren’t happy about things, no question, and they are honest but they believe in me and I believe in them.
“Dermot is honest with me and I am with him. It’s the same with Peter.
“We aren’t smoothing over any cracks here. We aren’t saying everything is fine, it’s obviously not.
“We are honest enough with each other to debate that. They are trying to help me and I’m trying to help the players. It wasn’t a huge ordeal for me.”
Lennon insisted the discussions with the top men were nothing out of the ordinary but he did hold crisis talks in the wake of the Prague fiasco.
Celtic face Ross County in the Betfred Cup tomorrow and need to find form before 10-in-a-row hopes are left in ruins. Lennon said: “I had a long chat with the players and what they need now is support. I will give them energy and belief that they are good players.
“They have proved that and they will come good sooner rather than later.
“I need to keep a calm head and a sense of perspective. I spoke to the players after the game in Prague and opened it up to them. We are all together and very much unified.
“We aren’t happy with the way things are and we are disappointed for the fans. The players are feeling it and they want to put it right.”
Lennon needs a reaction at Celtic Park tomorrow but remains confident he is the man for the job and that his squad have the tools to turn this slide around.
He said: “I’m looking forward to it as we’re starting our defence of the League Cup.
“It would be good to win the game, win it well and take it from there.
“We’ve got a big month coming up. This isn’t terminal by any means.
“Europe is over now. We need to look at the domestic games.
“The other two Europa League games will maybe give me a chance to freshen things up and get players some games.”