Mentor O’Neill hails ‘fantastic’ achievement

MARTIN O’Neill has hailed Neil Lennon’s achievement in winning the SPL title. The former Celtic manager, who bought Lennon for £6 million from Leicester City in 2001, said: “Given the backdrop that Neil has faced, it is a fantastic achievement to have guided the club to this victory.

“Winning the championship was Neil’s objective this season and he has overcome all the problems.

“Now he has a championship as a manager to go with five titles he won as a player with Celtic. Having won the Scottish Cup last year and followed it with the title, is a great start in management for him.”

The Sunderland manager added: “Neil and the club fully deserved this success. In all the mayhem that has surrounded Rangers’ financial problems, it seems that something is being taken away from Celtic. But they overturned Rangers’ 15-point lead and produced a great run of form that deservedly gave them the crown.”

Celtic have been made overwhelming favourites to win the SPL next season, too. Scottish firm, McBookie.com, yesterday made them an almost unbackable 1/5, so you would have to invest £5 just to make £1 profit. Rangers can be backed at 10/3 outsiders. Spokesman Paul Petrie said: “We can see Celtic dominating for years to come with Rangers facing an uncertain financial future.”