IT’S LIKE A RED FLAG TO A BULL
Celtic Lille Tonight, 8pm
NEIL LENNON has branded the ‘ shoot the board’ banner outside Parkhead as tasteless as well as dangerous.
The under fire Celtic boss has called for unity as the Hoops season hangs in the balance despite protests outside of the stadium. Seething supporters have left slogans and banners slaughtering him, Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond on the ring of steel thrown around Celtic Park.
Lennon insisted he understands the fans frustrations – but he insisted some of the language goes beyond the pale.
He said: “It leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. It’s unpalatable, that sort of rhetoric.
“From some sections of the support it is dangerous rhetoric.
“It’s not welcome and I don’t think it represents the vast majority of the Celtic support.”
Lennon has been given some breathing space by the Parkhead powerbrokers after Monday’s statement backing the boss and vowing to review the club’s status after the Old Firm showdown on January 2.
The Hoops manager hailed the board for holding firm admit intense pressure – when many club chiefs would have already hit the panic button.
Managers don’t often get the time to salvage situations and Lennon said: “They don’t but this board don’t behave in that manner.
“There’s a durability about them, and I think that’s why the club has been so successful.
“We’ve had unparalleled success here and they believe continuity is important. It breeds success.
“The league is not over. It’s going to take determination to turn the season around quickly and get back to the standards they know they are capable.”
Lennon is set to ring the changes for tonight’s dead rubber Europa League encounter with Lille.
David Turnbull, Greg Taylor and Ismala Soro are in line to face the French cracks.