Martin O’Neill has made a very curious comment on the Covid season, essentially defending Neil Lennon.
According to the interim Celtic boss that season suited the club from Ibrox.
We all know the toxic nature of the Ibrox support and the way that their players wilt under scrutiny, under pressure.
Equally the positive nature of the Celtic support has pushed their team over the line on many occasions.
Playing at an empty Ibrox was clearly a big boost for James Tavernier but it doesn’t in any way explain the total collapse of Celtic under Lennon.
Celtic went into Lockdown having won 10 of the previous 10 domestic trophies. Set up by Brendan Rodgers.
Steven Gerrard was barely hanging onto his job.
Hearts had knocked Gerrard’s side out of the Scottish Cup in February.
Lockdown came on the back of home defeats from Hamilton Accies and Bayer Leverkusen.
Discussing Lennon’s managerial record at Celtic, O’Neill told the Daily Record:
Celtic were trying to go for ten-in-a-row and there was Covid. From a distance, I felt Covid suited Rangers rather than Celtic at the time, but that’s beside the point.
When everything settles down, Lenny’s record both as a player and as a manager is incredible.
Am I surprised he’s not working at a higher level? The short answer to that is yes.
That’s not to say he’s not enjoying it at Dunfermline. I think he gets on really well with the chairman and the owner of the football club.
?And that says something for him. He just loves football and he loves managing. More than I did.
Since leaving Celtic in February 2021 there has been a distinct lack of interest in Lennon.
Spells in charge of Omonia Nicosia and Rapid Bucharest led to Dunfermline in March 2025.
NEIL LENNON- THE UNTOUCHABLE MANAGER
No English club went near Lennon. Only in the European outposts of Cyprus and Romania were they prepared to offer him a job. In Romania he lasted six matches.
Between jobs Lennon is a regular pundit on television and radio. Self projection, putting himself in the shop window.
This season he was a prominent critic of Brendan Rodgers in the fortnight before he resigned as Celtic manager.
Lennon came out of Lockdown in horrific condition. Much like Leigh Griffiths.
The Boli Bolingoli incident should have alarmed the whole club.
After losing at home to Ferencvaros Lennon blamed players that wanted to leave. No one was sold.
The incidents multiplied.
Peter Lawwell and the Celtic board took no action when it was clear that Lennon had completely lost control.
Lennon and Lawwell thought that going to Dubai in January, as Scotland stepped up Lockdown restrictions was a good idea.
It wasn’t. It was selfish and tone deaf.
Lennon had a good record of success managing Celtic.
However trying to absolve him from the carnage of season 20/21 is something that only Lennon has attempted. It was the fault of everyone else according to the current Dunfermline boss.
Across football season 20/21 was a freak show full of bizarre outcomes. At Celtic it was almost all self inflicted with Lennon and Lawwell deserving all of the blame.
Joe was always told if I have nothing good to say….say nothing at all**** that exactly how i feel about Lennon he’s always going to be a divisive figure amongst Celtic fans regarding his time as player & manager, true that no English team would touch him after Bolton and I’m even more surprised any chairman would hire him after his Hibs carry on… but obviously he has delivered for he present club so he must be doing something right.