Lennon replies to quit stories

Neil Lennon has dismissed claims that he is about to quit Celtic.

Headlines this morning suggested that the hoops boss was considering his future as he discussed whether he could do any more at Celtic.

Lennon has never hidden his ambition to manage in the English Premiership but with a casualty rate approaching 50% the opportunity and salary does have come with other issues.

In a pre-match interview with Radio Scotland Lennon said that he hoped to be around to build another team at Celtic with the Irishman clear about this mornings’ reports when he was asked his views after Celtic’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone.

“I don’t know where they came from,” he replied. “I was asked ‘Do you think you have taken the club as far as you can?’ and I said well maybe the last 16 is maybe as far as we can go for the time being, so I think it was taken completely out of context.

“I hope I will be here for the long haul. I haven’t changed my mind on anything. I’ve got work to do here.”

Celtic’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone went some way to lift the gloom caused by the Scottish Cup defeat from Aberdeen eight days earlier.

A hat-trick from Anthony Stokes and a promising debut from Leigh Griffiths put a smile on the face of the home support who enjoyed the return of the Green Brigade.

The supporters group have been missing from Celtic matches over the last two months but re-emerged today in Section 118 rather than their traditional location of 111.

It’s believed that the tickets were bought on an individual basis with the season ticket holders in 111 still suspended from that area.