The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Celtic appeals to Lennon as Deila decides to leave
Former manager keen on return to Parkhead after Norwegian confirms his summer exit
Neil Lennon signalled his interest in returning to Celtic after the club confirmed that current boss Ronny Deila would be leaving at the end of the season.
Increasing speculation about the Norwegian’s future following the penalty shoot-out defeat to old rivals Rangers in Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park ended with a statement released by the Parkhead club which revealed Deila’s imminent departure.
Lennon won three Premiership titles and two Scottish Cups and took Celtic into the Champions League during the four years he spent as Hoops manager before he left in 2014 to be replaced by Deila.
Speaking at the John Hartson Foundation charity golf day at Mar Hall, the former Celtic midfielder, just out of an unsuccessful 17-month stint as Bolton boss, was asked if he would be interested in going back to Celtic Park.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I would definitely be interested.
“I am not promoting myself for it but you asked me an honest question and I am giving you an honest answer.
“I think they will have someone in mind and there will be a long list of candidates for the job now because it is still a very attractive job for anyone.
“I was associated with the club for 15 years, I missed it when I left as a player and there are aspects you miss even now at 44 years of age.
“And you see an event like Sunday, the passion and the crowd and what it means to so many people, there are not many clubs who can generate that sort of enticement.
“I don’t think there is a lot wrong. A couple of tweaks here and there and there needs to be an injection of pace into the team in certain areas.
“There is always a huge fall-out from these games. You are the worst team in the world when you lose and the best team when you win.
“But I don’t think there is a lot wrong with the team, that a couple of additions would make a lot better.”
Deila said in the statement that it was “vital that the club comes first and foremost and instead of me being the focus, hopefully now the team and the club can be the focus as we enter the final important period of the season.”
Celtic are eight points ahead of Aberdeen at the top of the table with five post-split fixtures remaining.
However, Lennon believes the defeat to a weakened Rangers side, on the back of failing for the second season to take the club into the Champions League, was probably the last straw.
The Northern Irishman said: “You know how important Europe can be.
“There is always a fall-out when you don’t qualify for the Champions League, there is a bit of a hangover.
“Domestically the object was to win the treble and I think there was a fall-out after losing to Ross County (in the League Cup semi-final) as well.
“But the acid test was Sunday and although they lost in sudden death penalty kicks, I think the overall performance was disappointing from Celtic’s point of view.
“It is a very unforgiving environment at times. But I just think Celtic this season haven’t handled the big games as well as they normally do. I think Ronny will be far better off with the experience.
“If you can manage here for a couple of years or whatever length of time it is, it will stand you in good stead for whatever walk of football you want to go into after that.
“I am hoping Ronny will be able to enjoy his last month or two as manager and get over the line with another championship, that would be a nice way to finish off.”
Deila’s successor needs to be strong enough to make demands of the club’s board, according to former Hoops striker Hartson.
“But Celtic are going to need a little bit of surgery to that team and a manager that is going to go in and say, ‘This is what I need, can we get this player, make sure we get him, I like him.’
“And a manager that will stand up and be strong in that dressing room. Whoever gets it, it is a fantastic job and it is a great club.”