The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Celtic chiefs ‘back me’, says Lennon
Under-pressure Celtic boss Neil Lennon revealed he has the “full support” of chief executive Peter Lawwell and major shareholder Dermot Desmond.
The Hoops crashed out of the Europa League with two Group H games remaining on Thursday night after their second 4-1 defeat by Sparta Prague this month left them with one point and still bottom of the section.
With two wins in nine in all competitions, the Hoops are 11 points behind Rangers at the top of the Premiership – albeit with two games in hand – and a section of the Parkhead support, fearful that the chance to win an unprecedented 10 successive titles is slipping away, have made it clear they want their manager to go.
Ahead of the Betfred Cup last-16 tie against Ross County at Pa r k h e a d tomorrow, where Celtic will attempt to win their 36th successive domestic cup tie, Lennon said: “I have had a long chat with Peter and Dermot Desmond today, we are totally united, totally together and totally determined that we will make it into a good season.
“I speak to Dermot maybe twice a week, so I spoke to the two of them today on a Zoom call this morning and we are trying to find solutions to what we can do better, not just for the first team but all around the club, and it was a very productive conversation and I have their full support.”
The former Celtic captain, in his second spell as boss of the club, is “hugely” encouraged by the support of the club’s power brokers.
However, Lennon was not surprised by their stance “because of the relationship I have had with them as a player and a manager, in my first spell and certainly in my second spell,” he said.
The Northern Irishman added: “I am delighted and it gives me a lot of confidence and comfort going through a difficult period, which all managers do, which all teams do, which all players do.
“We are not happy with the way things have gone over recent weeks and I am head of the football department and face of the club and Peter is the chief executive and Dermot is the main shareholder.
“They have been with me since day one, through the good times and what would be perceived as a bad time at the minute, and they feel the need to offer suggestions, ideas and vice versa from me.
“They are not happy about things, no question. They are honest about things as well but they believe in me and I believe in them and I believe in the process.
“Again, because it’s such a high-profile year, a highprofile club, the criticism and the intensity and scrutiny is magnified and again, I don’t think there is a million things wrong with the team.
“We are very determined to turn things around. I don’t think it will take that much.
“The players are lacking a bit of confidence but it is nothing terminal here.”