It was a beautiful start and an even more perfect ending to Celtic’s Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline Athletic in May.
It provided a poignant moment for the Celtic supporters: Neil Lennon sharing a warm embrace with Martin O’Neill before the match, only to proudly hoist his former mentor’s hand in triumph at the final whistle.
Celtic’s domestic double triumph was a joy to behold, and it has led to O’Neill staying on as manager for next season.
No one champions O’Neill more passionately than Lennon, and the former Hoops midfielder made no secret of his ‘delight’ that his old boss is remaining in the dugout, as he told PLZ Soccer.
“I am delighted,” said Lennon. “I think he earned the right to be the Celtic manager. I think it should have been his decision and his alone.
“But now he is in the hotseat again. Expectations change now. He is no longer the interim. He is no longer filling in for anyone, so the pressure sort of shifts, but he will be well aware of that. He did a magnificent job last season.
“What they don’t want to do is have the same sort of season they had last year. They were so inconsistent and lost far too many games, so I think they are in for a big summer recruitment-wise. I think they have the right man at the helm. Albeit how long, we don’t know.”
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Martin O’Neill’s appointment brings everyone together
Celtic fans protested against the board repeatedly last season.
You even had O’Neill sitting there alongside the board when Celtic’s AGM was cancelled during his first spell in charge.
While that disconnect is still in the air, Lennon thinks that the return of O’Neill calms the waters, but he urged the powers that be, led by Dermot Desmond, to get the recruitment right to help themselves.
On how O’Neill gets everyone at the club together: “I think his announcement has pleased a lot of supporters, first of all, so that settles things down a little bit,” added Lennon.
“There is a disconnect between the fans, the board and the club. That didn’t help, so that needs to be resolved. One way or another. I would like to see Celtic Park, the connection back. We saw that towards the end of the season, when the team really needed it.
“I think recruitment has to be a lot better than it was last season. I am sure it will. There have been changes from last season to this. I think the club is more stable now with Martin at the helm. I think there is a level of respect for him outside of the building and inside the building. Hopefully, he will get to be far more assertive now and in control of things.”
Pressure on Dermot Desmond to back O’Neill at Celtic?
One man who continually has the spotlight on him is Desmond.
Lennon is hoping that Desmond gives O’Neill ‘what he wants’, as the champions of Scotland still don’t know whether they will be in the Champions League or the Europa League next season.
“I think there will be a budget,” said Lennon. “For the Champions League and the Europa League. I think they have to maximise the budget for Martin.
“I am sure there will be talks going on. Martin will, hopefully, get what he wants.
“Hey, as the Celtic manager, we always want more. That can’t always be the case. But they have to give him the best possible chance, which I am sure they will, of qualifying for the Champions League, then the whole season opens up.”
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