Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon will be plotting a course to take his new charges at Dunfermline Athletic into the Scottish Premiership within the two years of his new permanent contract recently signed with the Pars after fulfilling his short term role of avoiding relegation to league one in the closing number of games of last season.
One player he’d love to bring in to help him achieve that goal is Celtic’s most decorated player James Forrest, but Lennon who gave Forrest his debut for the Champions knows that’s not going to happen as Jamesy plans to be a one club man.
“I’m so proud of Jamesy. Wonderful, you couldn’t write a better story”
“I’m so proud of Jamesy. Wonderful, you couldn’t write a better story than when he got the last-minute goal against St Mirren in the final league game,” Neil Lennon said when talking about the Celtic legend this week as reported by Scottish Sun.
Lennon added: “What a player. He was like that when he was 18. He’s so humble. He’s never changed. He shies away from all the spotlight and he just gets on with his football.
“He’s one of the most exciting players Celtic have ever had”
“He’s one of the most exciting players Celtic have ever had, really. Jamesy would drive at you from the left, he’d drive at you from the right. He’s a great finisher.
“He had his ups and downs with injuries, but if you talk to every player or every manager who’s worked with him, he’s just been a joy to work with.
“I managed him twice and he always delivered. I loved him”
“I managed him twice and he always delivered. I loved him. I loved watching him play because he was different. He wanted to take people on. That was his remit when he was younger. I said, ‘I want you to run at people’. He was brilliant at it. He was a really good finisher as well.
“I’m delighted for him, he’s had a mega career. It’s incredible what he has achieved and you wouldn’t know it because he just shrugs his shoulders and wants to get the next one!
“His finishing has always been top class with both feet”
“But the consistency he had and the talent and he’s not lost that change of pace, either. He can do you from a standing position. His finishing has always been top class with both feet. I’ll try and get him here. I’ll have a chat!,” Lennon joked. He of course knows exactly what James Forrest plans to do with the time remaining in his playing career. He has one year left at Celtic and perhaps another one after that, depending on how the new season goes.
“You get a huge amount of satisfaction from seeing players come through like that,” Lennon reflected as he turned his attention to another player who is currently enjoying an outstanding career after winning his senior debut under Neil Lennon for Celtic in a League Cup game against Partick Thistle at Celtic Park after arriving for around £350,000 from Manchester City.
“Jeremie’s another one. He’s just gone to Liverpool”
“Jeremie’s another one. He’s just gone to Liverpool. I get a lot of satisfaction from that as well, having worked with him for a couple of seasons,” Neil Lennon said.“And what an impact he had for us at Celtic.
“Then he’s gone on to do amazing things in Germany to the point where he’s now signing for the Premier League champions. You get a buzz out of that.
“I couldn’t keep Jeremie out, he was that good”
“I couldn’t keep Jeremie out, he was that good. We had good players at the club at the time, but once we saw him training, he was just taking our breath away.”
Celtic’s £5m windfall
Celtic recently pocketed around £5m in the sell-on fee after Frimpong competed his move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool for £29.6m after the Anfield club activated the sell-on clause in Frimpong’s deal with the Bundesliga side after his £11m move from Celtic.
SUMMER SALE NOW ON AT CELTICSTARBOOKS.COM – IDEAL FOR FATHER’S DAY SHOPPING…
I wish Neil Lennon loads of success with Dunfermline.
He has an eye for a player.