Neil Lennon has praised Peter Lawwell, claiming that his former CEO has his finger on the pulse of European football.
With six failures to reach the group stage of the Champions League in the last eight seasons despite a seeded route many Celtic fans would dispute Lennon’s assessment.
Lawwell twice appointed Lennon as Celtic boss after spells as caretaker, famously in May 2019 the decision was taken when the CEO visited the celebrating manager in the showers at Hampden. Later Lawwell revealed that he never considered any other candidates.
Last February the relationship between the two men came to an end with Celtic’s 10-in-a-row bid in tatters.
Lennon has returned to management with Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia, reflecting on his old Celtic colleagues he told The Sun:
I speak to Peter. I’ve had the occasional text from Dermot Desmond. They have been very good to me. Peter was positive about this chance and I respect his opinion.
He’s a personal friend too. He has his finger on the pulse when it comes to European club football.
During their second stint together at Celtic Lawwell and Lennon signed Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas, Ismaila Soro, Patryk Klimala, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Boli Bolingoli from the continent.
In the window before Lennon arrived Celtic signed Vakoun Bayo and Marian Shved from Europe with Manny Perez and Andrew Gutman brought in from the United States.
After his first stint at Celtic, Lennon had 18 months managing Bolton followed by two and a half seasons with Hibs.
He’s a Celtic man, he’s made for Celtic. He knows Glasgow, he knows the city. He knows what is required, he’s a winner.
Both of them stole a wage at celtic