Celtic manager Neil Lennon: 'Why would I consider quitting... I shouldn't even be under pressure'

Neil Lennon has questioned why anyone would even think he would consider stepping away from his position as Celtic manager.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes the club's title ambitions remain firmly in his own hands (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

There has been a clamour for Lennon to be replaced from sections of the club’s support following the 2-2 draw away to Hibernian at the weekend. The draw allowed Rangers to stretch their lead in the Premiership to 11 points, having played two games more.

However, the Irishman said it was not the time to consider his position after 21 months in charge wherein Celtic have hoovered up all four domestic trophies available and have the chance to complete a quadruple treble in December’s Scottish Cup final.

“Absolutely not, absolutely not,” he retorted. “Look, if things deteriorated you might have to hold your hands up. But at the minute I’ve got no intentions of quitting. I don’t think I need to. I don’t think I even need to think about it. It’s all the outside noise that’s affecting other people. It’s not affecting me.”

Lennon was asked if he still believed he could lead Celtic to a craved record 10th straight title. “There’s no evidence to suggest that I can’t.”

The faith appears shared by largest shareholder Dermot Desmond and club chief executive Peter Lawwell with Lennon having no fears they will be influenced by the banner protest demanding his removal. “I speak to Peter every day and I speak to Dermot once or twice a week. Obviously we are all in the same fight,” Lennon said. “We know we are a little bit inconsistent. But we have great belief that we will go on a run and play the sort of football we know we are capable of.

“I don’t think they ever are [influenced by banners]. I don’t feel under any pressure at all. I don’t feel that I should be under any pressure either. We have lost one game in the league this season. We have lost one game in this calendar year domestically. So I think over the piece we have been pretty good. We are in another final. Unfortunately it’s had to overlap into this season and we didn’t get the chance to enjoy the fruits of last season. Once that’s out of the way we go for another one and try to achieve another treble. It never changes.”

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