Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths leaps to defence of Peter Lawwell amid fan flak

Leigh Griffiths says Neil Lennon has the backing of the dressing room – and Peter Lawwell’s achievements at Celtic shouldn’t be forgotten.

Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

Supporter protests have targeted figures both in the Parkhead boardroom and the dugout this season as the club’s hopes for a tenth Scottish league title in a row dwindled.

However, Scotland striker Griffiths believes the furious fans are forgetting the influence of the pair and what they have already delivered for the club’s history.

Lennon’s position as manager has come under increased scrutiny after four games in 2021 brought just two points, while rivals Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. But, despite a January review assessing his stewardship of the team, the misfiring players want Lennon to remain in place as coach.

Celtic's Leigh Griffiths (left) with manager Neil Lennon during a Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on December 30, 2020 (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

“We want him to stay for as long as possible because we feel he is still the right man for the job,” Griffiths said.

“There has been talk about his position and also Mr Lawwell’s position too. But you need to remember what these guys have done for the club.

“Yeah, the fans support us and we all love them, but fans quickly forget what those two have done for the club – the gaffer has won five out of six since he came back, Mr Lawwell has won the last nine domestic league titles and guided us to a quadruple treble.”

Griffiths played his part in that achievement too, scoring in the Scottish Cup final win over Hearts, and converting in the penalty shoot-out. He and his colleagues can take the heat off Lennon and Lawwell in the eyes of the fans, the striker believes.

Leigh Griffiths (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

“The fans are hurting more than any of us. It’s up to us players to put that right,” he said.

“We are the ones who need to take most responsibility. We are the ones out there playing for three points and are not putting in the performances.

“The manager and the coaching staff can give you all the instructions possible but ultimately it’s us players who are failing to carry out those instructions perfectly. We’re not giving them what they want.

“The coaching hasn’t changed, the coaching that the gaffer, Kendo and Gav gives us is brilliant.

Leigh Griffiths in action for Celtic during a Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on January 02, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland

“We still have time to turn it around. It’s the old cliché about game by game. We were disappointed after Livingston but we’re now looking ahead to Hamilton.”

Wednesday’s fixture will be Celtic's fifth attempt to win a game in 2021 – a year relished among the club’s fans for its tenth-title possibilities. Instead, Rangers have stretched a league lead beyond 20 points and Griffiths admitted: “We’ve got a big points gap to try and claw back and have not had the best of seasons but it’s still mathematically possible – we can still win the league.

“[The fans] have been singing about it. They thought it was a foregone conclusion that we were just going to turn up this season and win the ten. It doesn’t look like that. You need to earn the right to win trophies. We earned the right 12 times in a row but that has not been the case this season.

“It’s still mathematically possible to do it, but it’s going to be a big task to clinch the ten.”

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