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In the cold light of day, some reflections on Lennon’s appointment as permanent manager.
This is a retrograde step by the club – the manifestation of short-term thinking and a lack of ambition. Desmond and Lawwell have no desire to see the club realise its potential, which is deeply concerning. We can and should be doing much more to keep pace with our European peers
Structural changes are absolutely essential to ensure continuity heading forward. We cannot have the constant uncertainty whenever a new manager comes in. A sporting director is essential if we’re to make real progress.
Whenever the shape of European football fundamentally changes, as things stand, we are grossly unprepared to make that adaptation.
Any residual trust in the board has now dissipated. 10IAR is a possibility, but not a formality. The proof will be in the pudding at the end of the summer window, but after this, I don’t hold out much hope that we’ll strengthen the squad to the degree we need to.
Lawwell’s justification of the appointment is truly ridiculous: “A Celtic man, knows Glasgow, understands the expectations, has an eye for a player.” Going by that criteria, most of us should’ve been in line for an offer!
It is ludicrous that there wasn’t a proper recruitment process. Had they conducted a managerial search and Lennon emerged as the best candidate, it would’ve been marginally easier to stomach.
The point is, they didn’t, which is a complete abdication of responsibility and a staggering display of incompetence. Rodgers left three months ago and we didn’t even try to replace him with a manager of his calibre.
There’s no doubt the board conceded significant power to Rodgers, which they are desperate to ensure does not happen again.
At the end of the day, we will get behind Lennon, but that should not be perceived at board level as an acceptance of mediocrity and falling standards.
He will probably do a decent, if unspectacular job. We are still favourites to reach 10, but it’s by no means a done deal. Progress in Europe is unlikely, but clearly not an objective for Desmond and Lawwell.
The thing that most concerns me about Lennon is that he won’t drive the standards as high as Rodgers did, nor will he get the best out of the players at his disposal.
Say what you like about Rodgers (he’s still a rat), but the bar has been raised and expectations have never been greater.
I sincerely hope Lennon proves me and others wrong, but this feels like a very bad move.
We all want what’s best for Celtic. Having had the taste for domestic domination and progress, this appointment is confirmation of a club in reverse, and one that settles for the bare minimum. Whether 10 happens or not, we have to change that attitude in the years ahead.
When Rodgers left, we were raw, but we knew the board’s day would come. Complacency is a disease, something BR warned against. It is incumbent on us to scrutinise this board’s every move and to demand more.
This has nothing to do with being spoiled, but everything to do with a burning desire to see the club be the best it possibly can in every single way.
The point that some seem to be missing is that this is a much wider issue than the rights and wrongs of appointing Neil Lennon – it's about the future of the club. What happens if we don't reach 10? What happens if we do?
You know who said this? Peter Lawwell in November 2018. We've essentially resigned ourselves to doing the bare minimum to stay in front domestically, until such times as we're generating high media values.
So what are we doing to create additional revenue streams in order to try and compensate? Our entire business model seems to centre on UCL qualification and player sales. Until we diversify, we will not make progress.
A greater emphasis on the pathway from academy to first team – resulting in the development of high-value assets – smarter scouting and recruitment would be a step in the right direction.
For instance, time will tell as to how successful two of our recent acquisitions (Bayo and Shved) are, but they are exciting signings, as these are markets we don't usually target.
With the EPL on our doorstep, we are in a unique position. A club that gives opportunities to young players on the European stage, allowing them a platform to develop their talent and a winning mentality.
Essentially, we could do more – as admitted by Lawwell himself – but choose not to. Some will be satisfied with that, but to me, it's a lazy attitude. This club has potential and it's high time it was fulfilled.
