CELTIC manager Neil Lennon – god, it’s good typing that! – said at today’s press conference where he was officially unveiled in the job alongside John Kennedy as his Assistant, that he had a message for any of The Celtic stars who may be in the former manager’s shopping list at mid-table Premier League side Leicester City.
“If they are thinking about leaving, I’ll make them think twice,” Lenny said.
The likes of Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney are all apparently on Rodgers’ radar and it is likely that Dedryck Boyata – whose agent was suspiciously quiet in the January window – will be heading down to the East Midlands when the season ends.
But if Neil Lennon can work his magic over the next few months the ex-boss might not be as successful as he thinks in any player-grab attack on Lennoxtown.
“Could I help the players stay? That would be the intention, yes,” Lenny said.
“What I would say to the player is, in my own experience, once you leave Celtic it’s not the same.
“It’s a very special club with a very special support. I know from my own experience and players who I played with, once you leave the club there’s a bit of a hole there.
“Something in your spirit which is not quite the same. It’s magical what this club provides for players.
“If they are thinking about leaving, I’ll make them think twice.”
Both McGregor and Tierney have already been linked to Leicester City with KT also having Arsenal ready to move for him too, apparently having scouted him for two years. Speculation like this is inevitable when a manager leaves as Celtic Assistant Manager John Kennedy appreciates.
back at celtic neil Lennon @CelticFNH @celticfanzone @SkynyrdScotland @lucynicolson3 @_AndrewMaclean @FitbaFanatics @ClydeSSB @MagnersUK @VSCSC1888 @Celticnewsnow @AlisonGConroy pic.twitter.com/ouh54ODq9K
— jeff holmes (@jeffholmes24) February 27, 2019
“I think when managers move there could be movement in that respect.
“But, speaking to the players yesterday and seeing how they were responding in training, they were fully focused on the here and now.”
Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie are both out so the likely team for tonight’s crucial game against Hearts at Tynecastle is as follows…
Scott Bain
Jerry Toljan, Dedryck Boyata, Kris Ajer, Kieran Tierney
Scott Brown (captain), Ewan Henderson
James Forrest, Odsonne Edouard, Scotty Sinclair
Oli Burke
