Kris Commons has claimed that Neil Lennon wasn’t the reason for Celtic’s horrendous season- passing the buck onto the players.
Lennon and Commons first teamed up at Nottingham Forrest, it seems that the bonds formed at the City Ground are as strong as ever with the former Scotland star unwilling to apportion blame on his former team-mate and gaffer.
There are many reasons for the way this season has fallen apart but it is difficult to look beyond the decision to reappoint Lennon on a permanent basis following the 2019 Scottish Cup Final win over Hearts at Hampden.
During his time at Bolton and Hibs there had been no signs that Lennon was anything other than a run of the mill manager. Capable of decent results and performances and also of some horror decision making and falling out with players he was supposed to be getting the best out of.
Last season’s SPFL and Betfred Cup wins were very welcome but the red flags were raised by feeble European defeats from Cluj and Copenhagen.
After Lockdown Leigh Griffiths returned badly out of shape, describing himself as a disgrace. When Fraser Forster refused to return to Celtic followed by a Champions League KO from Ferencvaros the red flags were out in force. Lennon opted to blame the players he was meant to be managing.
Picking up on his deflection from his former boss in the Daily Mail, the Daily Record reports Commons saying:
When Lennon left, some people expected an improvement in the attitude and performances of players such as Odsonne Edouard and Kris Ajer. But it’s abundantly clear now that Lennon wasn’t the problem.
The problem lies squarely with these players who have their own agendas and have prioritised them ahead of the club.
The unhealthy obsession with 10 In A Row is at the heart of it. Celtic felt compelled to hold on to a select few players who were already plotting their own exit. They should never have entertained the idea of having to coax these players into giving the club ‘one more year’.
As soon as a player expresses a desire to leave, as Lennon made clear after the Ferencvaros game last August, the club should be phoning them a taxi to the airport.
These players felt like they were doing Celtic a favour by hanging around. They have lost all motivation and it has been the club and the supporters who have suffered for it.
Who is mostly to blame for Celtic's disastrous season?
It all comes from the manager
The players, they are out on the park
These two decided on everything
In the final season of his Celtic contract Commons made five appearances– for Lennon on loan at Hibs in the Championship. At the age of 33 Commons retired from football due to a recurring back problem.
