Charlie Nicholas would have chosen different Celtic boss

By Connor Gordon

May 31, 2019

Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas would have backed another man for the permanent post.

The Hoops legend would have went box office rather than a straight to TV movie in appointing Neil Lennon. He believes the Irishman is a good stand-in for Brendan Rodgers but nothing more.

Finally the controversial pundit has came out and spoke sense after splitting opinion many times. If only the board had similar voices in the room.

Charlie Nicholas chooses Slaven Bilic over Lennon

Both are massive Celtic men, but they disagree heavily over the club’s future.

Charlie Nicholas playing for Celtic in 1983. (Photo by David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images)

Lennon is still dithering over his contract offer on Saturday but is set to accept.

Nicholas hoped the club would go a little better and get in another top European manager.

He told Sky Sports News: “I would’ve gone for something a little bit different. I was looking at somebody like Bilic or someone that might have a different creative approach but Neil did a fabulous sit-in for Brendan Rodgers.”

Lennon was appointed in the showers after he helped seal the treble treble.

This followed a hastily prepared board meeting at full-time, not the most professional way.

Peter Lawwell hugs Neil Lennon at the end of the season. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Peter Lawwell also claims the board didn’t speak to other approaching agents and the job was always Lennon’s.

Charlie Nicholas backs Lennon against Lawwell

One worry Celtic fans will have is that Lennon will be Lawwell’s yes man when it comes to transfers.

The support will want Lennon to be backed no matter their opinion on him as boss.

The Irishman will need a backbone to get every last penny from the board and Nicholas backs him to do it.

He said: “Don’t be fooled, a lot of people think that he’s just going to be accepted as a ‘glove-puppet’ manager and he won’t fight Peter Lawwell for his budget – he will.

Blame will lay at Lawwell is appointment doesn’t work out. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Next season is shaping up to the most anticipated yet with a lot of branches to be uncovered.

If Lennon does win nine-in-a-row he will have done it against all odds.

However, a failure will never be lived down and blame will start at board level.