Celtic’s stuttering form puts Lennon in spotlight at AGM

NEIL Lennon will undergo a litmus test at Celtic Park today on his public approval rating that will reveal whether supporters have been swayed by the disappointments of the last few weeks.

The cliche about football being a results business might tempt some observers to think that Lennon’s stock has dropped over the last month after three defeats in the SPL have left his team sitting ten points behind leaders Rangers in the title race. Not the perfect time, one would think, for a manager to address his club’s annual general meeting.

If Celtic PLC’s agm officially makes those in attendance shareholders, rather than fans, then Lennon could be faced with stern scrutiny, given that his expensively-assembled team failed to win the title last term. However, Lennon brought something of the feelgood factor back to Celtic last season and even on the final day, when Rangers had become champions by a point, he was given a standing ovation by the Celtic Park crowd for his work against a torrid personal backdrop.

The death threats, parcel bombs and being the victim of a Hearts supporter’s attack at Tynecastle swelled Lennon’s popularity, yet the Celtic manager is still likely to face questions from the floor today about why a side that cost £10.3 million last season did not prevent Rangers from winning a third successive title.

Lennon, though, will not be short of allies. Perhaps his greatest, Dr John Reid, the outgoing chairman, will make the final agm address of his eventful four years. Dr Reid lauded Lennon in the annual report published in August when the club posted healthier financial figures than should be expected in the current economic downturn, with Celtic swiftly slashing a debt that had risen to £9m just six months earlier to just £530,000, and despite turnover being down to £52m.

Celtic will have to maximise every penny they earn, which ought to give the new PLC chairman, Ian Bankier, some scope to make his name with the Celtic supporters and shareholders, given the 59-year-old’s track record in the commercial world where he set up The Whisky Shop chain. Bankier is fulfilling a personal ambition as a Celtic supporter to take over the reins as chairman and will make his inaugural speech at the end of the agm.

Some supporters may demand that the board invest more money into the team but that is an unlikely option in the current climate. The greatest area of debate today is likely to surround the Scottish Government’s planned legislation to tackle religious bigotry at football matches. Celtic have stated that they feel the proposed laws will criminalise fans and that the current laws are robust enough to deal with the issue.

One motion on the agenda which is likely to interest fans of all clubs relates to a proposal calling for standing at matches. Many Celtic supporters want Scottish football authorities to follow the lead of Germany’s Bundesliga, where standing can account for 25 per cent of capacity.