Neil Lennon met the media this morning in vastly different circumstances to his spell as caretaker manager in 2010 after Tony Mowbray had been sent on gardening leave.
Rather than picking up a demoralised squad that had just lost 4-0 to St Mirren the Irishman has been handed the keys to a treble in a 14 match package.
Lennon leads Celtic to Tynecastle tonight looking to retain Celtic’s eight point gap at the top of the SPFL table before a return trip to Edinburgh to face Hibs in the Scottish Cup.
Sitting alongside new assistant manager John Kennedy, Lennon was relaxed and assured as he dealt with questions relating to his return to the club.
a) A no brainer, very very eager to be here, it’s been a whirlwind 36 hours
b) We’ve lost a manager who is one of the greats, I’ve got big shoes to fill
c) I will be relying on John a lot, I will join in the build up tonight
d) Different circumstances (to 2010) the team is unbelievable under Brendan
e) This club means a helluva lot to me, this is a privilidge, once in a life time but for me it’s now come around for a second time
f) I don’t want compared to Brendan, he has his way and it’s fantastic, I have my ways
g) Did you always dream of coming back? YES, you don’t believe it but you dream of it
h) The club comes first, the most important thing is that the club, come the summer it will be a club decision
i) John is essential to me, imperative to me, I’m pleased to have him with me
j) We are in a great position, eight points clear but that can close over a few games. The platform is there
k) Brendan raised the bar in terms of trophies anyway, I just want to get to eight, I’m not looking beyond that
l) I want to adjust quickly, I’ve only been here 24 hours, every job has risk but I’m just going to enjoy the moment
m) Earlier in my career I wanted to take on the world, I had a chip on my shoulder but I’ve changed although I still have an edge
n) The thunder is already here, I want to bring the trophies back
o) I didn’t expect to be going back to Easter Road but football has these little quirks
p) Celtic’s form since the turn of the year has been fantastic, I thought that they were fantastic in Valencia till the referee turned the game. What I like about this squad is their mentality
q) Once you leave Celtic it is not the same, a special club, a special support. This club is magical
r) I left the club in great terms (2014) I’ve always kept things open with Peter and the club
s) I’m sure I will get a warm reception (Tynecastle) from both sets of fans!.
The deal to bring Lennon in as caretaker boss was completed at tea-time on Tuesday with the Irishman immediately linking up with the players at their pre-match hotel before the trip to Edinburgh.
Lennon will be assisted by John Kennedy and Damien Duff who steps up from his role assisting Tommy McIntyre as Reserve team coach. His first home match in charge will be against Aberdeen on Saturday March 9 with that match already sold out.
A complete lack of respecthttps://t.co/DTLqlCNsTg
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) February 27, 2019