Celtic boss says abuse is ‘appalling’
OUT OF CONTROL Flak faced by Levein and other managers is ‘appalling’ says Lennon
NEIL LENNON last night claimed that the vitriol aimed at players and managers in Scotland is out of control.
Expressing sympathy with former Edinburgh sparring partner Craig Levein after the Hearts manager and director of football was sacked on Thursday, the Celtic boss said the ‘personal’ abuse some of the game’s high-profile figures had to endure was ‘appalling’.
Hours after a Premiership defeat at St Johnstone sealed the Hearts manager’s fate, ‘Levein out’ graffiti was scrawled on the ground outside Tynecastle. And Lennon, whose name was also written on a wall in the capital a year ago after an Edinburgh derby, feels basic respect towards managers and players has been lost by far too many.
‘The vitriol at the minute in the game, certainly up here, is appalling — the way managers and players are being criticised and abused,’ said the Celtic manager.
‘It gets very personal. These people don’t know Craig, they don’t know what he’s done, they have short memories. The graffiti at 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. I think it’s really tacky and some of the punditry aimed at Craig has been personal. I also think that’s unprofessional.’ Although rivals in Edinburgh for two seasons, Lennon held Levein in high regard. ‘It leaves a bitter taste, the way some people have behaved towards him, considering what he’s given to the club,’ he said. ‘I think he deserves a certain amount of respect.’ Lennon knows managers are in a results-based business, but he feels his Hearts counterpart was dealt a cruel hand over players available to him during the past year. ‘There were mitigating circumstances,’ he added. ‘They’ve had long-term injuries to Steven Naismith, John Souttar, Craig Halkett and Conor Washington. There is no doubt those four would make Hearts a better team.’ Celtic face Hibs in the Betfred Cup semi-final this evening with Lennon revealing that Scott Brown is not certain to play after tweaking his thigh during the win over St Mirren in midweek. He said: ‘Scott is a doubt but we will assess him in the morning.’ Lennon, who hopes to soon tie down Callum McGregor and Kristoffer Ajer to fresh deals, has welcomed Leigh Griffiths and Mikey Johnston back to full training but the semi is too soon for them. The Celtic boss also rubbished reports that Daniel Arzani will return to Manchester City in January.