Lennon pleads for time

Celtic manager admits job is at risk after cup shocker

NEIL LENNON has pleaded for a chance to turn Celtic around, but has admitted that his time may well be up after a dreadful defeat to Ross County saw his side crash out of the Betfred Cup.

The 2- 0 loss to County saw

Celtic’s long 35- match unbeaten domestic cup run come to an end, piling further pressure onto the embattled Celtic manager after a run of just two wins from the last 10 matches.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside of Celtic Park after the match to call for Lennon’s sacking, and he now admits that the club’s board may well be faced with a decision over his future.

When asked if he was fearing the axe, Lennon replied: “I can’t answer that.

“But I spoke to Dermot ( Desmond) and Peter ( Lawwell) on Friday and we want to find solutions to the problems we are having. On the evidence of today, we are still having those problems.

“I can’t say what decisions the board may or may not make.

“Do I see myself as the man to lead the team? Of course. I believe in myself.

“I am not always going to harp on about what I have done in the past. We are in the present and I know the expectations from the supporters and the board for the club. I am falling short of that at the minute, me and my backroom team.

“It’s okay saying, ‘ We are going to turn a corner’. There is no point talking about it – we need to do it with our actions and soon. Otherwise the landscape could change for me very quickly.

“We are all in it together. I hope I’m here to turn things around because that’s what I want to do as quickly as possible.

“But obviously the results don’t help those chances.”

As Lennon entered the press room to perform his post- match duties, chants calling for his sacking were clearly audible from the protesting fans gathered on The Celtic Way.

“It doesn’t make me feel good obviously,” Lennon said. “We aren’t in a good moment at the minute and the game is a small microcosm of the season and the run we are on.

“Penalty and a set- play, it’s symptomatic of our season. We are giving the opposition free hits.

“We dominated the game