Things have gone from bad to worse for Celtic and Neil Lennon after yesterday’s fiery press conference. In a season of never ending disaster on and off the pitch, St Johnstone have added to the humiliation by firing back at Neil Lennon after the Celtic manager questioned the coronavirus protocols in place at McDiarmid Park.
During an irate press conference yesterday, Lennon claimed that he and his players were “crammed into a little dressing room like sardines” when they visited Perth in October. This was an attempt to highlight the hypocrisy and ridiculous nature of the COVID protocols in place.
However, the Saints have responded in a short but hard-hitting statement of their own, as their head of football operations Kirsten Robertson wrote the following:
“St Johnstone Football Club is extremely disappointed with the completely inaccurate and unfounded comments about our facilities made yesterday by Neil Lennon, the Celtic FC manager, in a media conference.
“We provide one of the largest away team changing areas in the league. Every team, including Celtic, is also provided with a large area for team meetings.
“We follow all protocols and guidance to ensure the health and safety of all players, staff and officials.
“When Celtic FC visited McDiarmid Park on October 4 for an SPFL Premiership match, we made sure their every request and requirement was met.”
“Celtic viewed all of our facilities before the game and no issues were raised. No issues were raised with us after the game.
“All during this challenging period of the past nine months, our football club has maintained adherence to the highest of standards.
“Indeed, the SPFL delegates have commended us on our work during this campaign.”
Neil Lennon also referenced Hamilton Accies in his rant, when he claimed that the players were crammed in at New Douglas Park, with no social distancing. As such, the Irishman said “protocols of different clubs are inconsistent.”
St Johnstone’s statement comes just after Hamilton gave a shorter rebuttal to Lennon’s remarks. Indeed, according to the Glasgow Times, an Accies spokesperson said: “It is not our policy to comment on statements made by other clubs. However, we are content that we meet the most stringent standards of Covid protocols for all people visiting our stadium.”
This isn’t a good look at all for Lennon. No doubt, some of the hypocrisy of the government and media was true, as was the fact that an SNP member travelled from London to Glasgow with COVID. Meanwhile, the first minister had nothing to say when the national team conducted a conga together.
Nevertheless, an apology and calmly pointing out those points might have been a better approach, whilst leaving other clubs out of the discussion.
