Nineteen points behind Rangers, out of Europe and fans protesting against him… but Neil Lennon ‘STILL has backing to continue as Celtic manager’ with majority shareholder keeping faith in him
- Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has given Neil Lennon his backing
- Lennon is under pressure with Celtic a long way behind Rangers in the title race
- Celtic’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers at the weekend left them trailing by 19 points
- But Desmond has reportedly seen enough to allow Lennon to carry on as boss
Neil Lennon has been given the full support of Celtic’s majority shareholder to carry on as manager until the end of the season.
Lennon’s position had been placed under review following the club’s poor performances this season, which have left them a long way behind Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers at the weekend left them 19 points behind their Old Firm rivals but Lennon still retains the support of the board.
Neil Lennon has been given the Celtic board’s full backing to carry on as the club’s manager
Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is convinced Lennon is starting to turn things around
Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell have given Lennon their full backing, according to the Scottish Sun.
The Scottish Sun reports that Desmond thought that Celtic edged the Old Firm clash up until the 62nd minute when central defender Nir Bitton was sent off following a collision with Alfredo Morelos.
Eight minutes later, Rangers took the lead through Callum McGregor’s own goal, which decided the match.
Desmond thought Celtic were the better side against Rangers before Nir Bitton (left) saw red
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But Desmond was reportedly convinced that there was enough positives to suggest Lennon is getting Celtic back on the right track.
Should Rangers go on to lift the Scottish Premiership it would be the first time since 2011 that Celtic will have failed to win the league.
It would add to the misery of a season which started with Celtic crashing out of the Champions League qualifying rounds in August before also finishing bottom of their Europa League group in November.
Supporters have protested on a number of occasions this season, calling for a change of manager and a board, who they feel have allowed Celtic to stagnate and now fall behind.
Angry demonstrations took place outside Celtic Park in November following a defeat by Ross County and a draw against St Johnstone.
Both Desmond and Lawwell have been the subject of chants by supporters who have also paraded ‘sack the board’ banners outside the club’s stadium.