Neil Lennon has argued that Celtic’s hierarchy must loosen the purse strings and fully back Martin O’Neill this summer…
Lennon’s ex-gaffer and close mentor for a major part of his career, has been given the top on a full-time basis, in the aftermath of two successful interim spells in the dugout, which culminated in the club winning two out of three domestic trophies this year.
It was far from plain sailing though, as the man who will be honoured in his hometown of Kilrea soon bemoaned the lack of quality at times and was practically begging the Board for support in the January transfer window too.
That came and went without anything approaching quality coming through the door at Paradise, as Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka nowhere near the level.
O’Neill had to do what his predecessor, Brendan Rodgers did in his first season back at Parkhead: relying solely on a core group of players to see the job through and get us over the line in the Scottish Premiership.
There were casualties unfortunately, as Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo were rarely seen in a Celtic top towards the end of the season, with Hatate now affirming his desire to move on from the club this close season.
Meanwhile, Dunfermline manager Lennon, 54, was speaking to PLZ Soccer and urged the Board to fully support Martin with whatever he desires when the transfer window opens.
“There’ll be a budget, whether it’s the Champions League or the Europa League, and they’ve got to maximise the budget for Martin,” the ex-Celtic boss said. “So I’m sure there’ll be talks going on, and Martin will hopefully get what he wants.”
With a crucial UEFA ChampionsLeague play-off coming up in August once again, where the club faltered to minnows Kairat Almaty last year, the Pars boss insists recruitment must improve.
“As Celtic managers, we always want more,” Lennon continued. “That can’t be always the case. But they’ve got to give him the best possible chance, which I’m sure they will, of qualifying for the Champions League, and then the whole season opens up.
“The the recruitment’s got to be a lot better than it was last season. I’m sure it will be because there’s been changes from last season to this. The club’s more stable now with Martin at the helm. There’s a level of respect for him outside the building and inside the building as well. Hopefully he’ll get to be far more assertive now and in control of things,” Neil Lennon added.
Watch below the former Celtic boss talk about the work that Martin O’Neill will be looking to do this summer as he strives to make Celtic a force in European football and to continue to dominate the domestic silverware in Scottish football.
Paul Gillespie
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1 Comment
Wouldn’t class Lenny as having the best judgement calls within the decision making process that’s required within our club?
Especially with him acting no more than a puppet for lawwell, when in the managerial position himself?
Things have changed somewhat, since his days involved, but the sticking point upon recruitment still remains all the same?
Personally don’t pretend to know of having great knowledge, upon how big business operations work, and haven’t got that much interest within them either?
But do know, that it would sit more comfortable with myself, with money spent on a failed signing like a balikwisha, than giving it to a government in corporation tax?
At least you might get something back upon a failed player, compared to a failed government?
Might not be regarded as good business practice, within the business world, but within the majority of our support within the footballing world, it makes better sense imo?
And at present, end of year accounts, would be getting addressed, and our board will possibly still leave this point in operation for ourselves, to increase the anti board feelings towards themselves?
Don’t understand why taking such an approach, especially with pleasing so few, to upsetting so many within our support?
The available budget is always going to be a sticking point, as such figures can’t and won’t be disclosed with NDA in operation?
Can understand that, like most of our supporters, but doesn’t address, how money is getting spent, especially within the contracts that are being handed out to players all the same?
We do know that room for improvements is still available, as has been shown with Scales, McCowan and Yang already?
There is still room available within the wage budget, which was spent upon so many failed loan signings also? Which is potentially increased by no longer having to pay contributions upon Welsh and Palma within there loan moves last season, especially with it unlikely that we were receiving there full contract wage within the loan agreement imo?
We already know that we are potentially going to be self sufficient, within the rebuilding process over the summer, and possibly generate profits yet again, which increases if CL football is achieved? But that will only increase the bonus packages available within contracts as a result?
How much of such bonus payments are handed down to the footballing staff is unknown, especially with such speculation, that the suits and corporate sectors are the biggest beneficiaries?
That again becomes a bigger bug bearer, if indeed true, and failure achieved upon the pitch as a result of such a policy is in operation?
All of that and more, can get overlooked moreso, if we get an enjoyable product in return, for our own money getting invested into our club?
That wasn’t in place for large chunks of last season, leading to the levels of turmoil and unrest within our support as a result?
So far more within our support, taking more notice upon what is actually going on as a result imo?
Only really interested in the final results myself, which i can fully understand can be challenging?
Yet we all know improvements can be made, and expected within the overall process involved also?
Confidence might be low, upon it getting achieved, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be achieved either?
Still remain surprised that MoN is prepared to place himself, into such a high pressurised situation, within the decision making, that he’s expected to make within the process involved?
But must be content enough with the potential budget available to himself, as him or Keane wouldn’t have been interested in the job in the first instance imo?
How it gets spent, upon whom and what contracts are going to be handed out, is an entirely different matter, especially when only certain details of such deals can be disclosed?
But like any such deals, it will only be time before we can make our judgement calls upon them, all the same?
But surely the board, along with MoN know that frustration grows, all the while that nothing seems to be getting achieved as a result?
Especially with a focus upon the failed signings a bigger focus within our club, than the OK one’s in operation at present?
Personally would be OK, if we achieved a minimum 50% success rate within the transfer market, but obviously hoping for more?
Simply as it can make a managers role easier, with having to deal with so many matches involved within the footballing calendar, as it currently is these days for players?
Hence the requirements for more squad depth needed, especially if the injuries are going to be involved like last season?
And on that, would it be unrealistic to assess our medical department, as a result?
Finding it hard to accept that last season was just down to bad luck as a result, for what we had to endure last season imo?