Neil Lennon has claimed that there is a media blood-lust to have him sacked and that some interviewing techniques leave a lot to be desired.
During yesterday’s 8 minute 14 second broadcast media conference, with Celtic trailing by 21 points in the SPFL, Lennon was asked about Social Media attacks on an English referee and why Jim Goodwin was making a success of managing St Mirren.
Already this season Gary Holt, Stephen Robinson, Alex Dyer and Stuart Kettlewell have left their jobs in management with Derek McInnes under fire from Aberdeen fans after a grim run of results has left them as close to Livingston as they are to third top Hibs.
McInnes can point to the £5m raised by selling Scott McKenna and Sam Cosgrove to balance the books while scraping around to bring in Callum Hendry, Fraser Hornby and Flo Kamberi on short term deals. At the start of the season Jonny Hayes joined Aberdeen with his wages deferred for a year.
Before the sale of Jeremie Frimpong, Lennon had spent £13m on his squad while being able to bring in loan signings from the EPL and Serie A.
Despite that level of investment Celtic have dropped 23 points from 26 matches this season, winning last season’s title the hoops dropped 10 points over 30 matches.
Asked if he felt that criticism of McInnes from Aberdeen fans due to a run of poor results was justified the Celtic boss told the Daily Record:
No, I don’t think it is par for the course at all, it is quite disgraceful. Some of the interviewing techniques this season have left a lot to be desired. And I’ve talked about a blood-lust. You’ve had myself, Jack Ross and now Derek having to defend themselves in the media when it is totally disrespectful and unbalanced.
I wish people would settle down and have some faith in the management structures. It was only six weeks ago we were winning the treble. There’s a lust for managers to be sacked but we are human beings at the end of the day and we are trying to be as professional as we can.
Now even I feel I have to be so guarded now because people are so selective in what they use and then they throw it out against you, maybe a month or two down the line when it is taken out of context.
The narrative certainly this year has been very negative towards the club. In certain quarters it has been deserved because of the performances and results, but I think over the piece there has been a real lack of understanding and respect.
Since beating Hearts on penalties to win the Scottish Cup Celtic have dropped 12 points from 11 matches. Had they won every game they would be six points behind Steven Gerrard’s side with two matches in hand.
