Lennon deserves title, says Thompson

Rather, he views it as being a deserved reward for Lennon, after the hardship he has endured and the endeavour he has put in. Lennon continued to take a break from his media duties yesterday, however. Thompson stepped in on this latest occasion, after Johan Mjallby, Lennon’s assistant, carried out the post-match duties following the game against St Johnstone on Sunday. That win has made it possible for Celtic to claim a first title victory since 2008 in Kilmarnock, where they need just a point from today’s fixture. It is an apt venue. It was here, just five short months ago, when Lennon briefly contemplated what might be the end of his great project. Celtic were three down to Killie. At 1.15pm on 15 October, no one could have anticipated the turnaround which has since taken place. Understandably, Thompson views the ten-point sanction imposed on Rangers as immaterial, since Celtic had already overhauled the leaders by the time this penalty, the consequence of administration, was levied.

“I think it’s some achievement regardless of what people say – pundits talking about tainted titles and all that,” he said. “We were 15 points behind, so to turn it around the way we have, regardless of the ten-point deduction, I think is credit to the club. It’s been a long season – nine and a half months. We’ve been back in training since the middle of June. If we do it, it will be fantastic. Everyone will deserve credit, from the manager down to the backroom staff, kit men, everyone. A lot of work has gone in at the club.”

But attention, of course, will fall on one man alone. Lennon looked a rattled individual when leaving his dugout at half-time on his last visit to Rugby Park. “I don’t think he’d have walked away,” reflected Thompson. “I think what he said was he might have offered his resignation. It might have been accepted, it might not have been, we’ll never know.”

The second-half fightback proved crucial. The point earned did not mean much in the great scheme of things – Celtic are currently 18 points clear at the top. However, it meant everything for morale, something which was further boosted by the news, later that afternoon, from Ibrox, where Rangers were stung by a late equaliser from St Mirren.

“I was going back to Newcastle with my dad after the game and we stopped at a garden centre in Carlisle,” recalled Thompson. “After the coffee me dad said: ‘Rangers have dropped points’. I thought: this could be a turning point. We got a point and they dropped points. And from then on it just kept turning.” If Celtic gain another draw this afternoon at Rugby Park then it is probably fair to speculate that Thompson won’t be sipping tea in a garden centre later this evening. He is preparing to enjoy the occasion. He sees it as vindication for Lennon, who, as well as having to cope with numerous off-field troubles over the last 12 months, was also undermined by suggestions that a more experienced director of football, or at least a mentor, might be appointed above him. Thompson believes the coaching staff, all of whom were unproven, have since accrued the necessary experience.

“I think we were inexperienced in terms of the job that was required but we were experienced in other ways,” he said. “If you add all the years we had played it was a vast amount of experience between the four of us. We’d played for a lot of good managers and worked for a lot of good people and learned a lot. It’s been about applying that to the job day in, day out and trying to put it across to the players. We’re a couple of years into the job. It’s been fantastic. We’re more than happy with how it’s gone.”

Today’s hosts earned victory the last time the sides met, in another high-stakes encounter. The League Cup defeat was a significant setback for Lennon. However, the league title has been his ultimate quest since taking over from Tony Mowbray in March 2010.

“I think everyone is so pleased for Neil – players, staff, everyone. If it happens tomorrow then great. We will all celebrate it with him because he deserves it. He has been through a lot.

“He puts in an awful lot of hard work that people don’t see, whether it is going to games, watching players or going to watch kids coming through the system at Celtic. He puts a lot in so he will deserve every success that he gets.”

Thompson is a veteran of the 2003 trip to Rugby Park – when Celtic knew they had to outscore rivals Rangers in order to lift the title. The midfielder has more reason than most to rue that afternoon, when Celtic defeated Kilmarnock 4-0 but lost out on goal difference to Rangers, who defeated Dunfermline 6-1. He missed what turned out to be a crucial penalty. There is more room for error this afternoon. However, Thompson assured supporters that the team will be going all out for victory.

“We haven’t approached any game – even away to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League – going for a draw,” he said. “It’s not what we’ll do tomorrow.”

Thompson ended by paying tribute to the players, who have been key to the switch in fortunes since October. “I think the average age of the team the other week was 22 or 23,” he said. “They have got their best years ahead of them as long as they keep improving, developing, listening and behaving themselves. They are a good group of lads and will deserve their success.”