Neil Lennon makes backroom team admission, Postecoglou should take note

Neil Lennon has admitted that he found it very difficult to operate given that he had inherited a backroom team that he did not appoint himself. The Irishman returned to the club in February 2019 and helped complete the Treble Treble before infamously being offered the manager’s job in the showers at Hampden.

Lennon inherited John Kennedy from Brendan Rodgers’ staff, with the former Celtic prospect opting not to follow Rodgers to Leicester. Damien Duff was promoted from the U20s and the trio helped get the team over the line in the league to seal 8-in-a-row as well as the Treble Treble, beating Hearts 2-1 at Hampden.

Kennedy and Duff were retained as Lennon was named permanent boss. They enjoyed success, winning the league cup and taking a considerable lead in the league before COVID-19 shut down elite sports (and everything else) in Scotland. 9IAR had been won and there were just two games to play for a Quadruple Treble.

Damien Duff elected to leave his role to become one of Stephen Kenny’s Assistant with Ireland. Celtic opted to poach Gavin Strachan, son of Gordon, from Peterborough to become the club’s first team coach. However, Lennon admitted in an interview with The Times that he found his second spell difficult as he didn’t have his own people there.

“I think I have a lot to offer if I can get my own staff in. It was difficult going into Celtic without anyone and inheriting a staff.

“It was challenging to make that work and we did. For 18 months it worked perfectly. I think it’s always important to have someone with the same sort of philosophies and ideas as you.

“John Kennedy was very, very good but the whole staff side of it was inherited. And I went in at a really, really delicate time after Brendan.

“I’ve had a brilliant time in Glasgow but I want a new challenge.”

Photo: Jeff Holmes

Lennon was reportedly rebuffed in his request for former colleague Garry Parker to join the club as it appeared that the staff were being selected for Lennon. The Celtic Star said on numerous occasions that Lennon needed his own staff in to help ease the burden as things began to unravel. However, it seems potentially bizarre that Lennon is saying that he never had the opportunity to hire a member of staff when Duff left, leaving an opening for a new hire.

Ange Postecoglou is said to have agreed terms to become the next Celtic manager. The 55-year-old will likely travel to Glasgow shortly to begin his isolation. However, he will need to assemble a new staff. It is of the upmost importance that he has the ability and authority to pick his own people.

With that said, Kevin Muscat did play for Rangers. At the time of writing, he is a candidate for the Assistant Manager’s job. It would sum up Celtic’s year if a player that played at Ibrox is given a role within the club. Some fans are resigned to it and others are not happy. If Postecoglou needs him then he needs him but it will likely be a rod to beat him with if things begin to go wrong.

In our exclusive interview with former Socceroo Scott Ollerenshaw, the Aussie said that any manager worth their salt gets his own staff in. This is something that Postecoglou and the club need to facilitate to make sure that the best possible environment is created for the players.

It will be incredibly unlikely that Muscat joins Postecoglou but the important thing is that whoever does accompany the Australian in the dugout, is selected by the manager and that they can bring something to the group.

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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