Aiden McGeady: Mowbray sacking was jolt players needed

AIDEN McGEADY admits the departure of Tony Mowbray was perhaps the jolt the Celtic players needed.

Neil Lennon was installed as interim boss last week after the 4-0 defeat at St Mirren brought an end to Mowbray's short and troubled tenure as Hoops' boss.

The Parkhead players responded with a 3-1 home win over Kilmarnock on Saturday and despite being 10 points behind Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, they will look to build on that against Hibs at Easter Road tomorrow.

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The Celtic midfielder claims the recent managerial changeover could rejuvenate the club after a hitherto disappointing season.

"It takes something like that to kick-start everyone and give them a boot up the backside," McGeady said.

"That's what we needed because we have underperformed and we are so far behind Rangers and it shouldn't be like that.

"We feel we are a better team than that and it should be a lot closer.

"It is down to ourselves but it is the manager who takes the blame which is the unfortunate thing about football."what needs done as well and, in that, the last month has been disappointing."

Meanwhile Lennon has made tentative plans for next season and they include bringing Stephen McManus back to Celtic.

While stressing that he had been given no assurances that he will be made permanent manager, Lennon revealed he has discussed potential targets with his new assistant Johan Mjallby and admits McManus is the type of player he would want at the club.

The Hoops captain was allowed to join former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough in January on a loan deal and there has been speculation about a possible permanent transfer.

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However, Lennon said: "I will be speaking to Stephen in the next few weeks and gauge how he is getting on.

"He is a good player, he has captained the team and won three championships in a row here so that is the sort of mentality we want at this club.

"I think he is just concentrating on getting games under his belt and I don't want to rock that at the moment.

"If he is enjoying his football down there then great but he is our player at the end of the day and he will coming back and we will talk to him then."

Former Celtic reserve team boss Lennon continued: "Johan and I have already spoken this morning, looking towards the following season, if I am still here.

"I have some ideas in my head but we will talk about that in more detail as the rest of the season progresses and as the close season comes upon us. The board will have a target of what their budget is and what their targets will be and I will be helping them."