Its all over twitter, and it comes from Keith Jackson.
A statement is expected today. Looks like the kids were up to something…
Full story;
NEIL LENNON has officially left his post as Celtic manager.
News broke of Lennon’s departure today after almost four years in charge of the reigning Scottish champions, following days of speculation about his future.
The 42-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to relegated English side Norwich City and top flight West Bromwich Albion, while his former Celtic team-mate Henrik Larsson emerged as the surprise bookie’s favourite to succeed him at Parkhead.
Now Record Sport understands that Lennon’s departure will be officially confirmed by the club today.
Parkhead sources are adamant that Lennon has not quit in a row over budgets or transfer targets.
A source said: “It’s a sad day, but Neil has been talking to the club for some time about his situation, he feels he needs a fresh challenge and a break from the strains of this job. It happens with every manager, it was the same for Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan, eventually the time arrives when it is best for all concerned to move on.”
A former Celtic captain, who won five top flight titles, four Scottish Cups, two League Cups and reached a UEFA Cup Final during his playing days at the club, his time as manager has been similarly eventful.
Lennon took the reins temporarily following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal towards the end of the 2009/10 campaign with an unbeaten run of league wins overshadowed by a 2-0 defeat to then-lower league Ross County in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
He was then given the role on a permanent basis that summer, with Alan Thompson and Garry Parker joining a coaching team that already included another former team-mate as his assistant, Johan Mjallby.
Of the original team of four, only Parker remained at the end of last season with Thompson fired from his role in June 2012 and Mjallby announcing that he was leaving to “seek some different opportunities” in April this year.
During his time at the helm, Lennon has led Celtic to three league championships in a row and into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
He has also won the Scottish Cup on two occasions although the domestic cup competitions have remained a stumbling block.
This season Celtic were knocked out of the League Cup at home by relegated Championship side Morton and out of the Scottish Cup by Aberdeen.
According to the bbc he had concerns about his budget. FFS.
And the BBC are always accurate of course. Strange then that Lenny said “I can’t thank [chief executive] Peter Lawwell and the board enough for their backing and support during my time as manager.”
As rumour goes,all’s not well behind the scenes.I
believe this was NO pre-meditated decision.Forget Snodgrass,
that’s all I will say.
God Bless Neil Lennon,you will always be a Celtic Legend.
They’ll have to tell the Stock Market first mind.
Hope its West Brom at least, he deserves better than a Championship battle.
Did big Mjallby leave because he knew he wasnt viewed as the straight forward replacement, place yir bets!
Thats it on BBC News24.
Nice to see coverage include Lenny giving the SPFL medal to wee guy ( Jay?).
A nice and fitting way to bow out.
Good luck Lenny, you’ll always be welcome back for a Paradise windfall draw. Just dont sell you memoir to The Record or Sun.
PS: Now can you tell us what MCoist whispered in your ear?
I’d say that was fairly certain. But why no goodbye to the fans if he knew he was going?
Despite club denials, I’d say this is about budget plus losing players (Samaras inc).
Looks like Neil’s ambitions (and ours) were bigger than the Board’s.
If so, don’t hold your breath for a strong replacement. More likely a yes man who’ll settle for what he’s given without creating any waves.
Some of the names being touted fill me with dread.(Henrik, McNamara, Lambert, and , Heaven forbid Coyle.
Good luck Lenny !!!! Thanks for the first three!!
Celtic board must get on with the job of getting new man in ASAP. Signings in and out must be done quickly – the champions league qualifiers are just around the corner. I dont think Henrik is the man for the job at the moment. My preference is Paul Lambert. Plenty of european playing experience, experience at bigger clubs than Henrik and knows the club well. Would be a no nonsense manager and knows the style of football we like.
COYBIG
Paul Lambert would be my first choice
Moyes as an outside bet he could rebuild his reputation at Celtic and knows the Club well enough to slot straight in.
Despite bombs, bullets and bigotry you beat them all!! Neil Francis Lennon I salute you! YNWA!
Gutted. 🙁
Surprised but not disappointed never rated him as a manager,or tactician,only concern is that our top players may now also look for new patures
Dignity again Neil. He didn’t say goodbye as such on trophy day as St Johnstone and Dundee United had a Scottish cup final to play for. God bless Neil on the next step of your journey. You owe nobody anything, you’ve done your bit very well. Thanks
Absolutely gutted.
He brought the thunder back, along with league titles. He gave us that night against Barca, and even better for met, the night in Moscow. he tried to get his teams playing the Celtic way. He understood the club and the fans, being one himself. Thank you Lenny, and yes he should always be welcomed back and his legend is undimmed in my eyes.
Why leave a secure job with every prospect of ongoing (domestic) success for the c.18 month spell as an EPL or championship manager is a strange one, I d like to think its because he feels he needs a new challenge, and not because the Board have become too miserly to work with. This is a Celtic board so who knows, but to be fair to them, Scottish football isn’t awash with money, CP, Lennoxtown etc aren’t cheap to run, and continuing to spend more than you earn can be disastrous, I m sure we all know where to find a good example of what can happen, so I have some sympathy with their predicament.
Thanks again Lenny, good luck in whatever you do next but don’t be coming in for Forster, VVD, Johannsen or Biton. Kayal and Boerrigter take them with you when you re clearing the office please. HH YNWA GBNL
I’d written parts of this over time, with the intention of sending it in, but never finished. I’ve chopped it up and it may even be, somewhat, legible.
The replacement manager is dificult to get into without specific people in mind but we can look at the financial situation. Reportedly, Lennon wass on £800k, around what we would expect to pay a regular first team player, and the average Premier League manager is getting £2.5m, around our wages for two key players. If we get a manager, even a failed one, from down south then we have to shift at two of our best players or hope the manager takes a huge wage cut. We’ve witnessed, across the city, the perils of paying for players that are unafforable, so why would we want to go down this route with a manager?
Wanted. A brilliant football manager to manage Celtic FC. Your duties are to equal or better the greatest manager ever by winning trebles, nine in a row and the European Cup. If you can manage to do all that then you will be told your acheivements mean little because your in Scotland but you will have successfully completed the first stage of beatification. The suitable candidate will be, not only, assaulted in the street but assaulted at work as well. Your family’s lives will be put on the line by bombs being sent to you, through the post, but you don’t have to worry about your kids picking them up from the front door as, for safety, your days of having a letter box are long gone. Further duties will include dealing with constant death threats and being told by the media that you ‘bring it on yourself’, just for doing your job! Your employer will fail to properly support you which will be shown by necessary signings not being made and key players being sold against your wishes. You will also have to accept the impossible expectations of a small but vocal few fans who would sooner see you sacked than support you. Some benefits not provided so good luck with car and home insurance due to the vandalism to your car and home. Good health insurance is recommended as the treatment you’ll have to put up with will probably result in mental illness. You could get a much easier job in England with a much bigger budget and a salary four times higher than we will pay you but where else can get such a challenge? Timewasters/Ally McCoist need not apply.
I’m sure quite a few tributes to Lennon will be on here soon enough but for me he has done a hell of a lot better than I expected he would, given the circumstances he found himself in and faced.
What’s Tony Mowbray up to these days?
The King is dead, long live the King, no man is bigger than the club etc etc so re a replacement
Lambert – I d like to see it but he is under contract = compensation payment + Celtic board = not happening
Moyes – doubt he ll want to come back up having been down south for so long. Will wait for and get a mid level EPL gig
Larsson – same applies re contract, but I doubt it would be as much to buy him out as Lambo, so possible, worried about his experience / success, but Lenny was the same, and we could end up with a Supersalary situation – a club legend who is above criticism as boss because of his playing status
Jackie Mac – some critics for leaving Celtic as he did. Now, how many players have left Celtic over the years because the board messed them around or decided they were no longer worth their contract? Again, compo would need to be paid, but i think he could do well, plays good stuff
Steve Clarke – I think he did very well at West Brom, but would he come back up to Scotland after so long in England? Like Moyes may wait for an EPL gig
Owen Coyle – no contract = cheap + available = say hello to the new Celtic manager, please God I m wrong on this, but if I were a betting man….
Really disappointed with how Neil Lennon has handled this – letting an agent give the news. to me shows a lack of respect for the Club and the Supporters. No doubt PL will get the blame.
He brought back ‘The Thunder’, but that cloud has now passed. I can see the sun coming over the horizon and a bright future ahead at ‘Paradice’. YNWA Neil Lennon. HH
@ celtsfan67
I agree that I’d rather have Lambert than Henke but “experience at bigger clubs”? I don’t think Motherwell and Dortmund are bigger than Man Utd and Barca?
I don’t think anyone in their right mind could resent Jackie Ma for how he left Celtic? As far as I remember he finished his contract, drove down south and signed for Wolves before anyone from Celtic even bothered to phone him. A victim
of the fact that Martin O’Neil, understandibly, not have his mind fully on the job when his wife was, so sadly, very unwell.
Correct me if I’m wrong?
Lambert is a no go no way we will pay his compensation, Malay mackay anyone? Jackie and larsson need more experience imo
Right this minute an new managers is of no real interest to me: I simply gutted Lennos left. He GOT Celtic. I wish him well and much success ( unless he comes up against us ) in the futre.
HAIL HAIL N aw that ( ah suppose )
Thank you Neil Lennon you will never walk alone, a true legend.
DOC a great piece well done, never a truer word spoken.
No idea about a replacement, but Henke is on a loser to come back, that’s for sure.
Lets hope we have a good one in and quick
Just woke up from a drunken stupour and it is true. The wee ginger man has left our club. Well,good luck and god bless Neil. I have loved having you run the Celtic. Lots of ups and downs. Barca was biggest up. Biggest down for me is your loyalty to shite players tho reading these blogs make me realise i dont know anything about football cos i seem to be the only person that thinks Big Sami is absolutley shite and i dont mean just some of the time. Deadhead. Your the man for me to take over. You seem to know what your talkin about? If not you ,then Henrik. Could that really happen? Anyone but Davie Moyes. IMO