For some yesterday’s fiery press conference was only missing the manager standing in a hedge, for others it was a long overdue defence of the club in the face of an almighty media and political backlash.
As the flames of the Dubai trip had reduced in time to embers Neil Lennon, having been isolating for some time, returned to work picked up an accelerant and kindling and set about reigniting the debate.
That particular discussion has been done to death, it’s been debated so much and views become so entrenched it matter little what side of the fence you stand, very few people are going to have their opinions swayed on the matter. Lennon however got his point across. And settled scores.
HERE’S HOW THE HERALD PORTRAYED NEIL LENNON TODAY…
Celtic it would appear have been held to a higher standard than some. Goalposts certainly seemed to have been moved, and the club, Lennon and the players themselves feel here and in Dubai that they have been issued with misleading direction, moveable instructions and have been punished for not adhering to contradictory messages. As such Neil Lennon was perfectly entitled to his impassioned defence but again it’s difficult to see what could be gained from it.
Peter Lawwell you can only imagine would be somewhat incredulous yesterday – and it is probably why the press conference was not aired on the same platform the CEO gave his Gerry McCulloch interview to.
PETER LAWWELL’S ‘APOLOGY TO SUPPORTERS’ VIDEO CURRENTLY HAS BEEN VIEWED 133,316 TIMES…
Having given that anodyne interview to Celtic TV last week, to now have some of what he said be contradicted, undermines the CEO and he won’t like it. The man taking the initial responsibility now sees the manager state he was the one who made the decision to go to Dubai, that he should bear the consequences and the right to defend the club. Whilst the CEO gave that interview not to clear the air or defend the club’s position. He did it to douse those flames and draw a line under the matter. He won’t be happy at feeling the heat lapping at the door again on a matter he felt had been closed.
What yesterday shows is we have a manager at last willing to stand up for the club, though for many this will be too little too late.
That in itself bears more heavily on the shoulders of Peter Lawwell and the mute board of directors than it does on Neil Lennon. For too long and through so many slings and arrows directed at the club we have turned the other cheek. On one hand Lennon’s performance at the press conference was welcome, on the other it was so overdue that it matters little now. The damage has long been done.
GLASGOW TIMES FROM THIS WEEKEND – CELTIC HAVE WRITTEN TO THE EDITOR FOR AN APOLOGY…
Such defence should have occurred years ago on so many subjects well publicised that we won’t go into today. However, on the Covid-19 issue Celtic seem to bear the brunt of negativity. We suffered the indignity of placement on the naughty step when there was political negativity around the managing of the exam results fiasco and then a convenient smokescreen this time around as the care home Covid crisis needed a ready deflection from the newsreels. What I’d give for a politically astute PR team.
All the while certain clubs played games without test results back, or were congratulated for swift action in punishing a couple of squad player patsy’s, while further investigation surrounding those in attendance at a player’s birthday party surely warranted forensic examination, rather than a pat on the back. Celtic could have come out swinging then but chose not to lay a glove.
Despite all of that we are where we are. Celtic look a disorganised shambles of internal contradictions and with an, I’d assume, expensively acquired PR department who look in about of much control of their remit as Saidy Janko ever had over a football.
THIS ONE FROM 2008 – SAME MEDIA GROUP FORCED TO MAKE AN APOLOGY TO CELTIC…
“Some fans would probably rather have a bead-rattling Hoopy the Huddle Hound in the dug-out”! (2008)
🙄
The Sunday Herald did the next week print an apology. pic.twitter.com/pE1PqkbmJB
— JoeBloggsCity (@joebloggscity) January 19, 2021
Peter Lawwel looks like if he has any authority left it is being entirely undermined, alongside a manager who on results alone looked pretty much his own caretaker, even prior to his gone rogue message yesterday.
And all the while as you’d assume Dermot Desmond looks under the bonnet at Celtic for the parts that aren’t firing on all cylinders. At present he must be considering a write off is preferable to the cost of the works.
There was a lot to like from Neil Lennon’s defence yesterday however he’s been unable to coach a defence to attack a set piece delivery with the same aggression and it is on the park where he has been found wanting.
READ THIS…Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse this happens
That sort of defence yesterday should have come from a CEO last week, one who instead preferred to roll over and purr yet again so as not to make waves. It appears both are currently employed in untenable positions; you’d assume the board of directors can see the same and will soon act accordingly.
Any organisation rolling from one disaster to another as Celtic have this season has to make changes. The need for such changes at CEO and manager level is now immediate. There appears little self-awareness or humility at Celtic and both men have to take responsibility for this disastrous season. It is now for the board of directors to extinguish the flames of a burning season and the Dubai debacle once and for all.
Niall J
