Keith Jackson feels that Neil Lennon could be given the chance to see out this season with Peter Lawwell dithering over his promised managerial review.
Responding to anger from supporters following a grim run of results the club issued a statement on December 7 standing by Lennon but promising a review of the situation in the new year. Most fans took that to be January but in keeping with the attitude within the club the review has no dateline.
After finishing 2020 with a winning run Celtic have picked up two points out of nine in 2021 with confidence in the squad drained and a growing expectation among supporters of decisive action.
Last week’s video message from Peter Lawwell portrayed a leader suffering under pressure and running out of ideas, it certainly didn’t give out the impression that a new far-reaching plan was about to be enacted.
The Celtic CEO has been keeping a low profile since the 2019 AGM, in his only newspaper interview of 2020 he chose to speak to Jackson and share his views with Daily Record readers.
Interpreting the developments of 2021 Jackson claims:
Chief executive Peter Lawwell promised to conduct a review of the whole sorry situation in January and now here we are, midway through the month and the dithering continues.
In the meantime, points are being tossed away carelessly and the pressure is mounting on Lawwell to be seen to do something – anything – that might send out a signal the club has not completely lost its sense of direction since chartering that flight to Dubai.
By sticking with Lennon throughout a catastrophic slump in form earlier in the season, it did look as if Lawwell might have run completely out of options. If that’s indeed the case then he may feel there is little point in pulling the trigger now just for the sake of it.
He may also feel Lennon has deserved the chance to get through this crisis and leave with his head held high at the end of the season when a massive rebuilding job has to be overseen. If that is the case, then surely someone should come out and say it because doing nothing merely creates the impression the club is slowly sinking in its own confusion.
Last year Celtic began their Season Ticket Renewal campaign on March 9, in the current circumstances it will require incredible spin to get supporters to start committing to next season in seven weeks time.
