The Olivier Ntcham saga appears to have come to an end, or at least a temporary halt.
We all heard Neil Lennon last week state that Ntcham had apologised to him and that everything had been dealt with. Well, in all seriousness, speak for yourself Neil (Scottish Sun).
Lenny is clearly trying to put a stop to the Ntcham events. His comments in L’Equipe about being too good for Scottish football has left a black mark on the summer. It was uncalled for, unnecessary, and, for the most part, simply untrue.
Ntcham openly disrespected the club to foreign media. He belittled us and the competition we play in. Yet, it seems as though he’s just been allowed to strut about Lennoxtown as if nothing has really happened.
One of the most glaring quotes from Lenny was that “he was disappointed with the way it came across, that wasn’t his intention”. Eh, what? Come on Neil, don’t play us for fools here. How else could Ntcham’s comments have been portrayed? You can’t talk about how you want to leave a club, say you’re too good for the place you’re at, and then come back and say “aye but that’s not what I meant”.
Ntcham saga shows Lenny clearly wants to protect his players
It would be a brave man to bet against Lennon knowing it was a poor excuse. He’ll have had it out with Ntcham and, hopefully, will have asked him just how he believed his comments could’ve come out differently. The fact Lenny didn’t actually provide an alternative view as to how the comments were supposed to come out, perhaps tells its own story.
But in the meantime, if Ntcham’s punishment wasn’t financial, then he should’ve at least been told to explain himself to the fans. Ntcham is a big boy. He’s 23, he’s fully able to explain himself and what he meant by his comments. After all, they came out in a way he didn’t intend, so there’s nothing to worry about, right?
We have to be wary of the precedent we’re setting here. There was something unsatisfying about how this all fizzed out. Did Lennon punish and let Ntcham know what he felt behind the scenes? Probably, but it’s not just Lennon that Ntcham has disrespected.
He’s let down the club
He’s let down the club and the supporters who’ve continuously supported him since he arrived from Manchester City two years ago. His next apology or explanation should be to the fans, regardless of whether Lennon is satisfied with his own private chat.
As it stands, players can now come out and say they want to leave the club openly, knowing they won’t be punished severely or made to explain their comments to the supporters. That’s pretty poor if we’re being honest. That’s the set precedent here.
There’s no sign of Ntcham coming out and explaining things. It looks as though we’ve to just forget about it and move on. But after what the Frenchman said, there’s something that doesn’t sit right with that course of action.
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