Neil Lennon reveals who he is taking inspiration from during Celtic's dark times

The thunderous support offered to Neil Lennon this week by long-time mentor Martin O’Neill demonstrated he remains firmly in his corner.

The experiences of Martin O'Neill (left) at Leicester inspire Neil Lennon he can shoulder the pressures resulting from Celtic current predicament. (Photo by SNS Group/Alan Harvey)

But for the Celtic manager, O’Neill has also been in his mind for another reason. What O’Neill was able to battle through when at Leicester City 24 years ago serves as “inspiration” for his conviction that he can drag Celtic out of a dramatic slump that has left them with only two wins from nine games. It has ramped up calls for Lennon to be removed from a support rendered apoplectic at the prospect their team could be denied the obsessed-over 10th straight title by a Rangers side holding an 11-point advantage in the league race.

Leicester were in the second tier of English football when O’Neill took the reins in the summer of 1995. A mere three wins in 16 league games across the winter months of the following season didn’t only make it seem they would remain there, but that O’Neill would be hunted from Filbert Street. Instead, he successfully faced down an invidious challenge.

‘He went through same thing’

“Martin O’Neill has been a massive influence on my career and in my life,” said Lennon. “I remember early in his time at Leicester we lost at home to Sheffield United and the Leicester fans spilled on to the pitch at Filbert Street. They were demanding a change of manager. Martin had to go through that but he remained strong. We then only lost once in 11 games and ended up getting promoted [through the play-offs] and he became one of the best managers in the Premier League for the next five or so years [and won two League Cups].

“He went through it in various stages of his managerial career. It’s not easy but you have to stay strong. I take a lot of inspiration from that.

“Martin knows me, as a person, a player and a manager. He believes in me. He believed in me when I played for him and he knows exactly what I am going through. He wouldn’t say anything publicly he doesn’t mean. While it was brilliant to have his support, it’s also great to talk to him privately about things as well.”

Drawing strength from Bolton

O’Neill might remind Lennon in such chats that the fact he possesses the mental fortitude he now requires is precisely why he has carved out such a successful career.

“I went through a really difficult time in my second season at Bolton [as manager in 2015-16]. That was more down to financial reasons as the club went in to administration. It was about trying to keep any sort of team together while they were selling off parts of the stadium and chunks of the car park and training ground.

That was a really difficult period.

“There have been times here as a player when there’s been bad periods, and even at Crewe in my younger days. I was maybe 19 or 20 and went through a loss of form and confidence. It took some words from different people and things picked up again. I never looked back after that.

“This is a difficult situation for a club of this standing, and in terms of the standards we set over the years. But it’s nothing we can’t turn around.”

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