Neil Lennon ‘got’ Celtic. He was a rookie appointment, and the early weeks were far from comfortable, a Hampden defeat to Ross County looked like an ominous early sign, but from the start of his first preseason he didn’t look back.
He was a hugely successful Celtic manager in Scotland and in Europe. The Barcelona team of the last six years, possibly the greatest team in history, were at their peak when they visited Celtic Park in November 2012. Neil came up with the game plan which brought Celtic victory and raised our profile across Europe.
What he had to endure off-field during his time at Celtic was atrocious and a blight on our society. But he overcame it. He stuck it out when you or I may have left, and now he leaves on his own terms – an undisputed winner.
More at another time on who next, but if we get a man nearly as capable we will be doing well.
Take care, Neil.
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Lennybhoy
You’ll always be Lennybhoy as far as I’m concerned.
Aff oot. To talk about oxygen. I’ll mibbee bring some back with me after in case we’re in need of it.
Life’s never simple is it. Change is constant. Bu88er!
HH jamesgang
It was time for you to go Neil bhoy, so all the best for the future and thanks for the past few seasons. Come on down Henke, can’t wait
Gold Coast Tom
14:09 on 22 May, 2014
1. I don’t post it every day. I post it when it’s relevant to the discussion. Like now.
2. I doubt many posters on here are dim enough to think I endorse The Great Desmondo’s comments.
Stevie Clarke’s odds cut from 12s to 8/1.
Comedy bet – Paul Le Guen with Barry Bawbag as assistant.
Given that our most important games of next season are what weeks away how incredibly naive would our board be to appoint a rookie manager? Surely they have got more common sense than that? If we do end up with someone as inexperienced as say Henrik, there’s no way he will be able to hit the ground running and navigate us thru 6 Champions league qualifiers, just not possible in that time frame.
So personally if we do get a rookie I’ll be writing off next season as transitional, hoping we at least win the league. Of course if we don’t win the league he’ll get sacked whether it Henrik or not.
Steinreignedsupreme
14:14 on 22 May, 2014
Aye, OK, then.
lct
You been talking to big A???
T.S.D.
Don`t quite understand the relevance,but this is a cracker.
1932
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDIpkz6DOi8
Gg @ 1414
Not quite.
macjay,
The first place I looked to for confirmation of these rumours was Celtic Twitter and then the club website. Newsnow was already awash with supposed confirmations from agencies all around the world. In my opinion, Celtic should be driving this news, controlling events but the two Celtic sources that I mentioned earlier still do not have the now confirmed news on either site. Our PR is and has for some time been woeful.
AR
In my view if this was a fully planned and orchestrated amicable departure on good terms Celtic FC PLC would have been first with the news on their web site in the terms today.
There would have been a joint press conference to announce Neil Lennon’s departure.
Any of you who believe any differently are at best blinkered by the Green & White hoops or just plain stupid. IMO
MWD says Aye
My friends in Celtic,
Like the overwhelming majority I am gutted,NFL leaves with my upmost thanks and respect.
Seems the bookies were correct again and that that the old adage is true ” no smoke without fire”. Once the dust has settled I would like some journalist ( Possibly from South of the wall ) to really, really print the “uncomfortable” truth. Warts and all.
HH
Ernie do you honestly believe DD was 100% sincere when he said that?
I just realized Peter Lawell looks like Benny Hill ,,,
Geordie Munro
14:21 on 22 May, 2014
‘Ernie do you honestly believe DD was 100% sincere when he said that?’
###
Yes.
Are you calling him a liar?
Like most fans, i will forever be a Neil Lennon fan for what he has given for our club not only as a player and manager but as also a human being, no person should have had to put up with the shit him and his family had to, thanks Lenny.
As a manager i can say he never totally won me over, negative team selections and tactics at times, and baffling substitutions were always a concern, his record in domestic cup competitions was also very very poor.
But i balance that against the for ever downsizing and budgets he had to manage, he in my mind has never had the final say in transfer dealings, the interfering of PLC Pete has always hamstrung his efforts to take us on to the next stage.
What concerns me is there seems to be no forward or succession planning here, we are only 6-7 weeks away from the first round of UCL qualifiers which we have to play away from home. The new man will only have a fortnight or three weeks to assess the squad and implement his football philosophy, very very high risk and a struggle to get to the group stages i think.
The question must also be asked why now? Renewals deadline tomorrow is that a coincidence?
Why has he walked now, not getting the budget he wants, players being sold without his consent, players he wants to keep not being offered contracts (Ledley & Samaras)?
One things for sure it will be a shoe string budget the new man has and he will also have to be comfortable with the strings on his shoulder as he will surely be PLC Pete’s puppet!
gebhoy
Very sad to read of Neil moving on. BBC article is a joke – has a link to another article – link says ‘concerns about budget’ while linked article mentions nothing of the sort.
Well done Neil, you showed the SMSM to be the amateurish cowards we all know them to be. Good luck the future and enjoy the freedom.
S
The good thing is this hasn’t happened 2 days before a CLQ ,the new guy should be in place in plenty of time to get pre-season organised and focus on the 3 CL ties (hope it’s 3 :})
A heartfelt thanks to NFL for everything he achieved while coaching & managing our club.
I said on here before that after everything his family had endured while representing our club, he had earned the right to decide when he walked and that’s just what he’s done. Best wishes for the future, Lenny. YNWA
In terms of the next appointment, we need more bang for buck.
Our player wage bill is tiny compared to the Euro giants in the big TV leagues, but it’s much bigger than many european clubs who outperform us in the CL and EL.
Cup final at the end of the season is a nice to have, but personally I couldn’t care less about trebles or 10iar.
It’s all about further progress in Europe for me and hopefully GTF out of this place!
Over to the board….
HH
TTTT
Geordie Munro
14:04 on
22 May, 2014
Stuart Baxter
FACT!
——–
Now THAT I could go for. He’s been a highly respected expert here on Swedish media for years, and THAT is some feat I tell you with the tactical nous in general of the Swedish Sports media.
Also pretty sure I read years back that he was mentoring NFL via phone. Which would mean he is perhaps a great man for keeping the ship stable.
MnCelt
Like Ah Said..
Mjallby??
Whad YOU Think?
Yep..
Anywey..
Mr.Mac.. Come come oan Down! Ye ye ur Needed!
Ah wull Be Blunt..
Neil.. kid..
YE DID THE DIRTY!
Kojo
Bealin’
_
!!bada bing!!
14:12 on 22 May, 2014
Hope you collect mate…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Paul was on John Beattie’s show earlier. He usually gives us a heads up but I’ll catch it later on iPlayer or TuneIn Radio.
There’s a thread over on the darkside about his performance and the sharp-eared inhabitants have picked him up on the following:
“Brennan talked about Hearts and Ally McCoists team – couldn’t even say Rangers!”
Well done that man !! :-)
GM
Aye, after the watershed. :))
Proudbhoy
Told him I was sad for Neil going, but happy for his family, leaving Glasgow.
Nominated Malky for replacement.
The “New” Manager already works at Celtic, J Kennedy, imho of course.
Gutted. Thank you Neil for 4 seasons of “Thunder”…
There have been many players who have brought more to the club than Neil did as one, and some managers who have brought more than Neil did as one but I don’t believe any single player or manager has had to endure what Neil has as a player and , even more so , as a manager.
There was some debate on here about who or what classes as a Celtic legend.
Neil Lennon is definitely one , imho, for that reason alone , if no other.
Davie Moyes under investigation over alleged assault in a wine bar…..
Closing date for renewals is tomorrow, coincidence!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Richie
“Brennan talked about Hearts and Ally McCoists team – couldn’t even say Rangers!”
Trust Paul to brighten up the day … !
FF
Another wee gem:
“Thought he (Beattie) tackled the interview with Brennan very well, I think he knew the kind of person he was dealing with”
Apparently Lenny has said, “I can’t thank Peter Lawell & the Board enough for their support”. I assume that wasn’t a tongue in cheek comment.
Very disappointed to hear Neil Lennon has left Celtic.
What a change in tone on CQN when he departed his post as manager as opposed to when he arrived. I think it’s fair to say it wasn’t met with universal approval….indeed there was much talk of him needing a ‘mentor’ which in hindsight was insulting and embarrassing. Sometimes unpopular decisions prove to be the right ones.
I’m glad Lenny was our manager and I wish him all the very best for the future.
SwanseaBhoy
My Dear Friend Kojo….
So Neil Has Gone…
Thanks For All The Fish..
Sure..The Announcement Of His Departure…
Should Have Been Handled A Whole Lot Better….
And Ideally,The Parting Should Have Been Two Weeks Ago…
But This Summer Break Is The Ideal Time For Neil’s Successor To Arrive…
So He Can Get His Feet Under The Chair..
And Get Things Properly Organized..
For The Return Of The DeidHuns…
To The Top Division…
Until Then..I Have Every Confidence…
That With You In The Dug-Out…
(Sans Beanie Hat Wi’ Propeller Atop)
Ably Assisted By Gary Parker And The Tea Lady…
Those Tricky CL Qualifiers…
Will Be Negotiated With Ease…
Till Steve Clarke Takes Over The Reins..
And We Have A Proper COACH !
Thanks for all the memories Neil. When I was up at Celtic park for a tour of the stadium I met him outside. He posed for pictures with no hassle at all and this was the weekend after the 3-3 game at kilmarnock so he must have been under pressure.
Sad to see him go.
Delaneys Dunky, did you get the headsup and polish yer noggin before your starring role. There was hardly any glare at all:-))
Very well done in pointing out very subtly the behaviour the huns brought to NL’s door.
I expect to see you in Game of Thrones series five fighting midgets, and monsters. Keep yer breeks on mind.
Best wishes to Lenny…..Decent job under an incredibly tight fisted board……
Prudent my erchie………not when they were paying out bonuses……
One small point though…..sorry
Barcelona team we beat under Lenny were only as good as Munich showed them to be at the business end of CL that season.
Lenny will not go down as one of our great managers….Good?…yes….Great?…..Sorry!!
antipodean red
14:19 on
22 May, 2014
Mate.
You are probably completely correct in what you say.
Precisely what confirmation is required?
A global organisation like Celtic may well have to digest the news and take time to make a considered Board response.
Without knowing the circumstances of Lenny`s resignation,how can the response of the Club be judged?
Sadly,we have a cohort among our blogging support whose first response to any negative Celtic news is the painfully predictable Board bash.Irrespective of facts or circumstances.
I would prefer to know the facts before I make a judgement.
Is that unreasonable?