NEIL LENNON has slammed back at his critics and told them “there is no justification” for him to be sacked.
The indignant Celtic boss was reacting to some over-the-top calls following three consecutive games without a win that has seen his side lose eight goals, drop five out of six Premiership points and go down 3-1 in their opening Europa League Group H encounter against AC Milan at Parkhead.
The 3-3 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday – following the 2-0 slump against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox visitors the previous week – sparked some vitriolic comments.
Lennon, though, responded and said: “This is being driven by people who are coming up with conspiracy theories about my role and what I bring to the club.
“Nobody sees what I do on the training ground, I’m here from 8.30am until six at night.
“When you go through a tough spell, you hear the theories about fall-outs on the training ground etc, but it’s all fake news.
“I sound like Donald Trump now, but it’s all fake news. I shouldn’t have to defend myself and don’t feel under any major pressure.”
Lennon, in a report in Sky Sports News, added: “Am I unhappy with this week’s results? Yeah. We like to play well and win. We have a lot to look forward to and are getting stronger again. And I think I should be the man in charge of it.
“There is no justification for me to be sacked, none whatsoever.
“A minority of our fans need to calm down and let the players settle. Fans might not want to buy into that, but if they can’t enjoy this season I don’t know what they can enjoy.
“Some need to show a bit of patience because it’s unbalanced and not helping the players. But, in the main, I think the majority of the fans are behind the team.”
Sir Kenny Dalglish threw his support behind the under-fire Hoops gaffer.
The Celtic and Liverpool legend, as reported in CQN earlier in the day, stated: “He’ll be there for a while and rightly so.”
Lennon will now take his players to France for the Europa League match against Lille on Thursday night which is followed by Sunday’s delayed Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden.
