25th May 2019. Neil Lennon has just overseen a Scottish Cup Final triumph over Hearts at Hampden Park. Trophy number three of three was in the bag for season 2019/19 and jubilant celebrations were seen far and wide. An unprecedented treble treble, the likes, will never be seen ever again, was completed. In the east end of Glasgow where the epicentre of unrivalled joy was witnessed. Family and friends hugged and sang songs to welcome the squad back from the south side. A world which right now seems so far away from home, in more ways than one.

Within minutes of the famous scenes at Glasgow Cross dispersing and supporters frequenting to a pub or two, the news broke of Lennon’s appointment, on a full time basis, and the majority of hearts sank up and down the country…

Many had been poised to see what the summer would hold for Celtic in recruiting a new man for the job. One which carried huge stature, ambition and crucially big ideas, but that wasn’t to be reality. “He knows the city!” was the battle cry of members of the Lennon faithful. It’s baffling how such a view could be seen as a positive off the back of losing a great footballing mastermind like Rodgers was.

Such a battle cry is fundamentally what has been wrong with Celtic under the regime of dominance since 2011/12. A sheer will to accept mediocrity both domestically and abroad.

His appointment is easy to analyse. He did not carry a stature of brains and brawn like Rodgers. His tactical awareness would not be to the standard of Rodgers’. So why on earth would a board deem him worthy of a full time job? In the end he only just about passed his final exam of seeing Celtic across the line in 2018/19. A C- would’ve been his grade, not a A- seen under an almost flawless two and a half years from his fellow Northern Irishman.

Many older generations will see such views as part of the “spoilt generation” of young fans who never “lived through the 90s”. The most sense spoken by branches of our support have been uttered by those who have been brought up on a winning Celtic side.

As we speak, many are gathering outside Parkhead to voice their anger. This is not embarrassing. Don’t get me wrong, one ounce of violence and it’s those who are suddenly in the wrong. At the end of the day a support showing great passion in these testing times towards the board and management can only be good for helping the club. Without such scenes, the rest of us would all feel helpless.

One thing is for sure. Neil Lennon has tarnished his name as a Celtic great. For multiple seasons, his face, alongside many others, stands proud on the side of Parkhead under that banner “Paradise, where legends are made”. He has, along with the board, dragged the club from invincibility to mediocrity via a lack of direction.

Four games in a row at home we have lost now. The first time the club has done so since 1958. This alone is simply the only ammunition needed to warrant ripping up Lennon’s contract. He must do the decent thing and step aside. As for his replacement, the usual names will be passed about but one the message must remain clear.

Put your money where your mouth is Desmond and think big.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Said similar on twitter earlier from Invincibles to invisibles, we`re now stuck with empty jerseys when we should have been miles ahead of our nearest challengers, the board have to shoulder the blame for where we are now, their shortsightedness put NL in position and now we`re witnessing the fallout from that.

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