Neil Lennon is planning the next three or four seasons in charge of Celtic.
In the midst of a horrendous season that has resulted in a number of unwanted records being achieved it is a remarkable show of confidence, or defiance, from a manager that has very little backing from the Season Ticket holders that Celtic will soon be turning to.
In the autumn Celtic lost four consective home matches for the first time since the fifties, in the Europa League, as top seeds in their group they lost 4-1 home and away to Sparta Prague. A 36 match winning run in cup ties was ended at home by a 2-0 win for Ross County, less than a month later County sacked manager Stuart Kettlewell.
During the January transfer window Celtic didn’t bring in a single permanent signing while shipping out Jeremie Frimpong and Olivier Ntcham.
After refusing to sign new deals Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie are out of contract in June 2022 with all previous form suggesting that Celtic will look to sell those players rather than see them quit as free agents.
On top of that the departure of four loan players at the end of this season leaves a massive rebuilding job with January suggesting the board don’t want Lennon to have any involvement.
The managerial review promised in December hasn’t seen the light of day which perhaps gives Lennon confidence to believe that he has been given the green light to continue.
Speaking to the Daily Record about the misfiring season, the former Bolton boss said:
I’m not running out on or giving up on my players. I believe we have a fine squad and it’s just not been our year. Hopefully that can change over the next one, two, three, four seasons going forward.
Should Neil Lennon start next season as Celtic manager?
Yes, he deserves another chance
No, absolutely not, enough is enough
Lennon was awarded a 12 month rolling contract in May 2019 and was viewed as the personal appointment of Peter Lawwell who is bailing out at the end of June.
Over the last month Celtic fans have blitzed the club’s Social Media platforms with a ‘No Entry’ sign super imposed over an image of Lennon with regular banner protests held at Celtic Park and Lennoxtown.