When Brendan Rodgers left us in the lurch in February 2019 we were fortunate to be able to turn to a known quantity in Neil Lennon as interim boss. His first week was totemic, wins at Hearts and Hibs sent him on the way to the league and Scottish Cup, completing our third successive treble.
Neil took the job on condition he was considered for the permanent position. Celtic agreed, but I doubt they expected he would get the job. Ultimately, hopes of attracting another tier one candidate were dashed, as you and I occasionally observe, Never follow Sinatra. Few wanted to fill Brendan’s sunbed. The choice was between Neil and an earnest candidate who had won promotion to the Premier League in England, before relegation and unemployment. Neil was thought to be the better choice by the club for what would be a pressured season, but it is fair to say there was consternation when the announcement was made after that famous Cup Final win over Hearts.
The fourth consecutive treble, by now an expectation in some places, was not as easy as previous seasons. Newco’s loss-inflated side reached their first final in five years, got to the last 16 of the Europa League and led the domestic table in January. After defeat at Celtic Park to their challengers on 29 December, Celtic won every game for the remainder of the domestic season in league and cup. It was a fantastic response from a manager who looked to be on the ropes.
More impressively, a difficult Europa League group was won; famous victories over Lazio will live long in the memory. Last season, Europe also provided a portent of troubles ahead; an inferior Cluj, eliminated Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers, Copenhagen amazed themselves by doing the same in the Europa knockout rounds. Something was not right.
The capitulation this season has few precedents in our history. Despite retaining all key members of the side, ignominious defeats arrived in waves. Ferencvaros, Sparta Prague, twice, Ross County, twice, Newco at Celtic Park without making an attempt on goal. The Europa League group was an omnishambles until Neil rested players for a dead rubber against Lille and discovered talent waiting in the stands. This helped his cause but not his reputation.
I don’t buy the theory that were disproportionately affected by lack of fans, we made a series of missteps, in magnitude no greater than at the start of Brendan Rodgers last season in charge, but this time our challenger scarcely lost a goal, never mind a game.
With the direction of travel well established, there was a window to change manager in the autumn. When I argued the case to act for the good of Celtic’s season, I was counselled on the need to attract a manager who would work for a club who will sack a manager that’s never lost a trophy and had only lost one league game. There would be some takers, but not the ones you want. I believe this avenue was considered. Our options were John Kennedy as interim or a candidate miles out of their depth.
Among the many emotions Neil Lennon will feel today, I am sure a sense of disappointment in how he was treated by some among us. As well as giving us some great days, the worst that can be said about him is he made several bad football decisions. After what he has been through to be a Celtic player and manager, his treatment in places was atrocious.
I remember Jock Stein’s last four seasons, that produced only one league title, not to mention Gordon Strachan’s four, which resulted in only one league loss. Both were hounded by uncontained angry fans. The only difference now, is that the uncontained have social media to organise around. Neil, is in good company.
He will undoubtedly experience relief, but Neil has opened up previously on his fragilities, I suspect he will be haunted by regret, one of the more pernicious human emotions. However, as the Chairman of the Board once noted, ‘Regrets, I’ve had a few, but too few to mention.. The record shows’, NINE-IN-A-ROW.
Neil, thanks for Lazio, Rennes, the leagues and cups and the many euphoric victories. I cannot imagine how difficult on a personal level this has been, but the very best of health for the future. You will never walk alone.
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2 candidates for the job then? ( NL and Alex Neil )
Typical of the short sightedness and penny pinching attitude of Cheap Pete. An utter chancer in the same mould as the Kellys and the Whites.
6 months too late.
The Board didn’t have a Plan A so Kennedy (God help us) is the only Plan B.
So in summary:
– Lennon was the best Celtic could hope to do post-Rodgers.
– We had to wait until this season was completely in the toilet before we could reasonably act to replace him.
– Lennon is the victim in all of this.
On the last point I would have some sympathy, but I don’t believe the fans are the issue. He was exploited as a shield by the truly guilty – who wouldn’t even let him make decisions about his own coaching staff.
I’m not euphoric at Lenny going. Though he had to go. There are much bigger issues at our club.
PS pedantic point, but we did draw at Livi.
https://thecelticblog.com/2021/02/articles-and-features/neil-lennon-was-the-wrong-answer-to-the-wrong-questions/
Anyone who has been fired from a job, no matter the size or magnitude will know how Neil Lennon is feeling today.
He will want to ne around his family and close friends .In my view, he is and will always be an iconic member of the Celtic family.
My only thoughts today are for his well being.
Sadly inevitable given the disaster this season has become. Still wish Neil all the best for the future and thanks for the good times.
As to the negligent, phone, spineless incompetents masquerading as a Board – change yourselves or be changed – you are behind the decline.
Good article Paul.
Best wishes to Neil Lennon.
Genuine questions to those wanting change at board level
How do we change them ?
How do we attract the required calibre of replacements.?
How do we get persons of wealth to come on board.?
Are we willing to put our preferential credit rating at stake ?
Financially our club has been stable and the markets realise this; how do we change without affecting this stability especially during a global pandemic?
As I say guys, genuine questions and not looking for an argument.
HH to all.
Very sad when any Celtic manager leaves, no winners here, they’ll be blaming somebody for the lost ten till the end of time.
The league was going in the first lock down and the signs were there when they played so poorly in France pre season, then dropped points from day 2 at Kilmarnock IMO.
Three transfer windows where they came up short and wasted ‘the Keiran Tierney money’ on poor signings, which the new manager will be required to redress, before any semblance of natural order, or next G.O.D. period.
The playing squad might have been broken up sooner after nine was completed, but Covid prevented all that, loan and permanent signings didn’t help generic Brendan Rodgers players, who had been there, and done it all,. Wantaway players, went away player, and Covid victims all played their part in our downfall, the board decided to ‘dig in.’
Incapable of changing the manager previously, they again proved incapable when the signs were clearly there for Neil, instead they chose to do nothing but get behind him, though not in a good way, they got behind him to hide, till they had to come out.
The rest is history CSC
The Player
* 5 x League Titles 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
* 4 x Scottish Cups 🏆🏆🏆🏆
* 2 x League Cups. 🏆🏆
* UEFA Cup Finalist 🏆
* 2 x Celtic FC Player of the Year 🏆🏆
The Manager
* 5 x League Titles 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
* 4 x Scottish Cups 🏆🏆🏆🏆
* 1 x League Cup. 🏆
Highlights:
* First Celtic manager to top a Europa League group including 2 wins over Serie A Lazio ✅
* 2-1 over Barcelona in 125th Anniversary game ✅
* Champions League Last 16 ✅
* Steadied the ship after Rodgers walked out approaching the latter stages of a league campaign ✅
* First person in Scottish football history to secure a treble as player & manager ✅
As a person:
* Faced the biggest & most sustained campaign of sectarian abuse of any player or manager in Scottish football
* In 2002, forced into retirement from international football following paramilitary death threats.
* In 2003, two men assaulted him. Lennon’s partner was passenger in his car.
* In 2008, brutally assaulted and knocked unconscious by two later prosecuted Rangers fans
* In January 2011, sent bullets in the post.
* In March 2011, sent letter bombs in the post, making headlines around the world.
* In May 2011, attacked by a Hearts fan as he managed the team from the dugout.
Whilst I hold the football department solely responsible for this season’s aberrations (all top sought-after players retained and c£17m spent in additions ..Barkas, Ajeti, Duffy, Laxalt & Turnbull), I of course recognise the failings of the board.
Neil Lennon, I wish him well – he won’t be short of ‘a few bob’ that’s for sure – was the right man for the job in February 2019. Brendan’s team just needed a steady hand on the tiller. NL admitted that he had adopted a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach, which was totally correct.
The board should have had a new man of the calibre of Brendan lined up to take over in June 2019. There was so much criticism of David Moyes coming in at the time, maybe it put him off, I don’t know..look at him know.
Now that NL is gone, will the real reasons for our collapse and apparent disinterest in 10iar be revealed? – my view is it is/was all about MONEY – we are just as deflated as we were after that night against Feyenoord in Milan – wasn’t there just the ‘tiniest’ of suggestions that MONEY wrangles scuppered at that time.
I fear for our immediate future on a number of fronts.
Good summation P67.
Enthusiastic, EPL qualified and multiple jobs as a gaffer in his own right eh?
At least 3 steps ahead of our charisma-bypassed, interim gaffer then?
Despite the tabloid tattle for JK, I hope we have a real deal guy – and backroom team – coming in soon.
Fatal hesitation cost us the 10 or fate cost us the ten.
James Forrest
Agree with every word of that. Hollow men, with feet of clay finding out the hard way they shouldn’t believe their own myth. This won’t be forgotten and it is something they deserve for all their vanity and complacency.
rumours new Director of football and new first team coach.
bold appointments
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmU5ZmYzNGIxLTQxNGMtNDNjZi04ZGQyLTQ1MDhjYTNlZmU4OTo2YTUwNWM4MC0xMzVmLTRkNDAtYTQ1Yy0yNGQ5MzZjMWJjNjg=.png?&width=640
Great summary P67👏👏
Ss. Bad man
Our PLC blew it in the showers at Hampden. They took the easy route and it has spectacularly backfired. £100m in lost CL revenues and no magic 10 bounce in retail, merchandise, ticket sales.
Absolute charlatans, happy to blame everything and everyone bar themselves.
I hope lessons will be learned, not just at boardroom level but on blogs such as these. Many took it for granted and fell asleep at the wheel.
An unmitigated disaster by all involved, Manager and players included.
One day we will get the club we deserve, but maybe we already have it?
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:22 PM
Ss. Bad man
————–
you got to laugh aint ye,
Our challengers have also never lost a penalty or a man to a red card. They also never lost a fixture to a player transgressing the Covid rules.
Neil Lennon’s resignation just made the BBC national 1 o’clock news.
Paul 67…a couple of inaccuracies on your lead…Sevco didn’t lead the league in January 2020 and we didn’t win ever domestic game..we drew 2-2 at Livi.Find it hard to believe there was only one candidate to replace NFL.
Maybe the high end managers we pursued read this blog……it would put me off taking the job……😂🤣
Who was it that called the supporters who wanted him gone in December “doomsday merchants?” Asking for a friend.
I’m sorry guys but all of this eulogising is a bit ott. I feel lenny was mostly to blame for this and he made himself bigger than the club. “Nobody matters but me and ill keep doing what I want”. He made dozens of cataclysmic mistakes, and then made more, out of stubbornness that he knew best. So many players let him and us down, yet he kept playing them ffs! We lost the 10 and also gave the rangers a giant head start for the next few years because he placed himself above everyone in the club. Ignore everything else, lenny put out the worst – prepared teams in celtic history – fitness, tactics, opponent strengths, substitutions, keepers, etc etc etc
So Alex Neill it was then…..
wow…..
we do like a particular homegrown template, don’t we?
HH
for some the compassion and faux empathy only lasts so long……………….
GREENPINATA on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:03 PM
You will get very few replies. Anyone in a position of having to end someone’s employment will know that its the very last option at a senior level. Particularly with season processionals who have a successful track record in their field
GREENPINATA on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:03 PM
Genuine questions to those wanting change at board level
How do we change them ?
How do we attract the required calibre of replacements.?
How do we get persons of wealth to come on board.?
Are we willing to put our preferential credit rating at stake ?
Financially our club has been stable and the markets realise this; how do we change without affecting this stability especially during a global pandemic?
As I say guys, genuine questions and not looking for an argument.
HH to all.
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What supporters/fans need to understand is this, the PLC is OWNED by a small group of shareholders.
Approx 95% of the voting shares are OWNED by 10 individuals or institutions.
The only effective way to force change and construct of the PLC is to buy them out. Go for a hostile takeover, very similar to what Low effected for McCann.
To find a group of the OWNERS willing to sell (at a Premium) enough percentage of their shares, that the takeover group gets a controlling interest
I would suggest back of fag paper stuff, this would require a sum of £60m, this could be a rival group of wealthy supporters or 60,000 contributing £1,000 each.
Then offcourse monies to actually enact the thing.
So let say we find our group, we call the board, anyone want to sell us your shares, we think your rubbish.
Dermot/Tranyor/Instituions have 65% of ownership say no thanks, piss off. Go establish your own club.
FC Celtic of Glasgow (ala the Green Rebels).
They are in a far stronger, deeper pocketed, shrewd financial operators than the old Kelly Whites.
Alternatively Dermo is fed up, and offers his shares for sale, every single SB holder needs to buy some, and even then, we only get to 32% of ownership.
No one on that board is going anywhere in anyway that makes a blind bit of difference.
We are transactional to them, We are emotional habitually buyers.
SAN LUIS on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:24 PM
Spot on great post !!
Re. the second candidate for manager. Is my memory failing me here, I seem to recall Peter Lawwell saying, as he was announcing the new appointment in the Hampdump showers, that we hadn’t even considered another candidate?
Now that the desk has been emptied and the peg on the door amended,to enable the next occupant to hang his coat and scarf,can the hun like language that has been prevalent from so called Celtic supporters desist.The man has gone,left the stadium,to begin a new adventure.Good luck and best wishes Neil.Oh, and by the way a managers job is not an easy task,especially the post at Celtic Park,where a decent salary is afforded to most,and of course,the nonsense that Neil Lennon had to endure from the dregs of society and more recently the disgusting language,as I have already stated from those in green and white favours.Finally if ‘you’ were to meet Neil in the near future would you still address him in the manner that you choose when sitting behind a computer,akin to those who sent him bullets and bombs and made his life hell,and for those close to him.
BHOYJOEBELFAST on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:57 PM
it wont change Joe, just move onto a new set of targets.
Already started on Kennedy and Strachan.
One thing is certain, whoever the next guys are, someone on here will say it is the wrong appointment and lines will be drawn very quickly.
If someone is appointed fast it will be wrong, if it takes ages it will be wrong.
I struggle with the current “we knew when Lennon was appointed in the showers it was wrong”, you know after winning 2 trophies.
Next person is going to have to win the european cup
I find it really hard to believe that the only manager better (?) than Neil Lennon who would’ve taken a job as big as Celtic, well-paid, the chance of trophies and Europe was Alex Neill.
Didn’t Lawwell say he didn’t look at applications? So we had people applying and Alex Neill was the best on there?
It’s regrettable that this season has worked out so badly that not only is the 10 gone but NL with it.
His departure has been on the cards since in November and should have happened then (when the season was still definitely saveable) or , at latest, after the NYD game (when it might just have been saveable).
The inevitability of his departure and the circumstances will taint his legacy here but it shouldn’t destroy it,
As Paul says NL did plenty of good here – you can’t have a chance of 10 in a row if you haven’t won the previous 9 and Neil was in charge for 5 of those, wholly or partly. It would be churlish to ignore that.
This season has been a disaster and would be in that category whether we were going for 10 or not. The loss of the 10 just makes it more painful.
In my experience, disasters are never caused by one person or failing but by the simultaneous “perfect storm” failing of several individuals or systems.
We’ve failed at recruitment on several fronts , we’ve failed at coaching and we’ve failed on the pitch. Different people, including the players, carry responsibility for that.
We’ve failed at management on several levels , not least of all in taking decisive action to deal with a manager in a tailspin.
What internal dynamics were at play to cause all of that and, worse still, to fail to arrest the obvious decline will probably never become public.
DD’s main task now has to be to ensure that “checks and balances” which actually work are now put in place urgently to ensure that appears to be a systemic collapse at every level can’t happen again.
Tell you who I don’t want
Alex Neil
Steve Clark
Jack Ross
Paul Lambert
John Kennedy
Can we attract a top level. Boss I doubt it ..I honestly don’t think we would pay the going rate .
This will take Eddie Howe etc out of the equation
So the jury is very much out on the new manager but it’s possibility the most important decision of the next year !
The question to be asked who is in charge of this decision!
ROCK TREE BHOY on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:49 PM
TIMMY7_NOTED on 24TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:19 PM
Rock Tree Bhoy on 24th February 2021 12:12 pm
Really? Give the man some respect.
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Was never any good at false platitudes, just so relieved that he’s gone,
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Don’t under-estimate your abilities. I’m sure if you turned your mind to it you’d be very good at false platitudes
Could be “You reap what you sow”.
Hope not.
ST.STIVS @2.05
Yes agreed, for some if Henrik had scored five……ah but he missed a sitter near the end (brigade).
Stay safe.