Davie Provan has backed Neil Lennon’s attack on the Scottish Government but has told the Celtic boss that he has no defence for his side’s title collapse. That his time is up as Celtic manager.
Without a win in four outings this year Celtic are 23 points adrift in second place as a potentially historic season ends up breaking all of the wrong type of records.
In the autumn Celtic lost four consecutive home matches for the first time since the fifties, at Livingston in midweek they went four league matches without a win for the first time since 2000 under Caretaker Kenny Dalglish.
Lennon has made it clear that he won’t be walking away but his backing among the fans has virtually disappeared, it seems only a matter of timing before his departure is announced.
Explaining why it is all over for the hoops boss, in The Sun, Provan writes:
How does he explain Livingston’s first goal in midweek to a support who have been watching amateur defending all season? If Gerrard can whip his back four into proper shape, why can’t Lennon? Is it really that difficult to have a group of international players defend set-pieces properly?
Sure, Vasilis Barkas hasn’t cut it, but he’s a convenient fall guy. Manuel Neuer would struggle behind that back line. I don’t buy the idea Lennon lost the plot at last Monday’s media conference. Ten days in isolation gave him plenty of time to think it through.
The scattergun attack was that of a man with nothing to lose. He knows it’s over for him. I agreed with much of what he said. In particular, the hypocrisy of politicians who gave their tacit approval for the Dubai trip but even allowing for his barney with Andy Walker, dissing Andy’s Celtic career was a cheap shot.
Lennon is scheduled to face the media again this week to preview Celtic’s match with Hamilton but after refusing to upload his video previewing the Livingston match it is clear that the Celtic hierarchy aren’t comfortable with the actions and comments of their manager.