During his conference call with Sunday newspaper reporters Neil Lennon explained why he believes that this season hasn’t been an unmitigated disaster.
It could be said that if you are discussing the topic in February the season has probably been a disaster.
Lennon seems to think that winning the nine remaining SPFL matches will somehow salvage the campaign ahead of the biggest squad rebuild this century.
Finishing the season with a 14 match winning run might cover up the final gap at the top of the table but it’s not going to rebuild the squad in time for July UEFA qualifiers with a lengthy list of departures appearing inevitable.
Jonjoe Kenny, Diego Laxalt, Shane Duffy and Moi Elyounoussi will return to their parent clubs and lucrative contracts when the SPFL ends in May.
With no sign of Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie or Kris Ajer signing new contracts it looks like they will be sold in the summer or face a season of uncertainty as the final months of their deals run down.
Stephen Welsh and Mikey Johnston might be ready to become first team regulars but they won’t be joined by Conor Hazard, Karamoko Dembele or Armstrong Oko-Flex who are all out of contention for a place and out of contract in June.
Nine more wins might convince Lennon in terms of stats but not everyone.
Neil Lennon in defiant Celtic update as he insists season isn’t ‘the unmitigated disaster everyone makes out’ https://t.co/btHCM0HeoV pic.twitter.com/IEK4VUXAxu
— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) February 20, 2021
??Out of Champions League at the 2nd round.
??Humiliated home and away by Sparta Prague.
??Defeated by Rangers without registering a shot on goal.
??Limped out of the league cup to a struggling Ross County.
??League challenge over in January.
But NOT a disaster says Lennon
— The Cynic (@90MinuteCynic) February 21, 2021
We had @DavFlan at today’s presser. He asked Neil Lennon about the deterioration at the club and what he can do to fix it that he hasn’t already done.
The full unedited press conference audio ia available in the form of the Press Gang podcast.
Subscribe??https://t.co/1GcXoqZU5t pic.twitter.com/0Nv3prdsmi
— The Cynic (@90MinuteCynic) December 9, 2020
