I for one never thought I would see the day where I would say Neil Lennon just doesn’t get the Celtic supporters.
He’s Celtic born-and-bred and has this club instilled into him. He bleeds green-and-white and all the rest of it. To sum up – he’s a big Celtic supporter and always has been.
But if anything shone a light on how delusional this season has made him, it was comments made at his press conference today.
Lennon in the past has been wise enough to dodge supporter opinions he doesn’t agree with. He’s often looked to accuse media figures of his treatment of him when many of us have been just as critical. He does very well to avoid having direct digs at fans.
However, he might’ve well have done earlier today. As the Celtic supporters continue to be incensed with how lacking in ambition their club is, Lennon made us all sound like over-entitled cry-babies.
Speaking as quoted by the Daily Record, Lennon said: “We’ve won nine league titles in a row and four consecutive trebles which no club has ever done. So I don’t understand why because we’re having a difficult season there’s this theory of change the board, change the club from top to bottom.
“That’s not what I’m seeing and I think I know the club well enough.
“I’m not going to cut corners with what I’m saying. I understand that people now want a change of manager and a change of managerial staff but the way the club’s been run over the past 20 years has been absolutely fantastic.”
Neil Lennon not understanding the full picture; Celtic fans furious about more than just the 10
When supporters criticise Lawwell or Desmond, their scathing verdict doesn’t start and end at Celtic making a mess of the 10. Much of that is on Lennon’s shoulders anyway given his horrendous mismanagement of this group of players.
Our anger towards the board runs much deeper than one bad season. It comes from a failure to strengthen from a position of strength back in 2009. A refusal to sign Steven Fletcher when Gordon Strachan was in charge as four-in-a-row came close.
It’s the dreadful appointment of Tony Mowbray and the declining path that took us down. A failure to keep a top-class manager satisfied in Brendan Rodgers by refusing to spend in order to get John McGinn.
The failed Ronny Deila appointment that saw us stand still for two years when Rangers were out the game. An absolute satisfaction from the club’s board to allow our rivals to catch up and now overtake us.
This is anything but one bad season. I would honestly have hoped Lennon could’ve seen this for what it is. Years and years of horrific decisions that have allowed the 10 to be lost.
Fans won’t ever forgive this board. That Lennon is effectively telling us all to get a grip isn’t on either. When it comes to telling fans what they should be thinking, he should be keeping quiet for now.
In other news, an in-the-know pundit has stated that another Celtic youngster will soon follow Jeremie Frimpong out of Parkhead.
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