St Johnstone blast Celtic boss Neil Lennon for 'inaccurate and unfounded comments'

St Johnstone have hit back at Neil Lennon for "inaccurate and unfounded comments". Picture: SNS

In an explosive press conference ahead of the Parkhead side's trip to face Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Wednesday, Lennon took aim at Scottish Government officials, the press, pundits and fellow Scottish Premiership teams.

Lennon was responding to the criticism of the club following their trip to Dubai at a time when the country entered another lockdown.

He pulled up both St Johnstone and Hamilton for their Covid-19 protocls when it came to the away dressing room and an apparent lack of physical distancing.

Le said: “And in terms of physical distancing we have been in dressing rooms throughout the country – Hamilton on Boxing Day, St Johnstone – where there is no physical distancing. There is no room, we are cramped up, 15-20 people in the one room.”

The Perth side refuted his claims in a statement.

‘Large area for team meetings’

"St. Johnstone Football Club is extremely disappointed with the completely inaccurate and unfounded comments about our facilities made yesterday by Neil Lennon, the Celtic FC manager, in a media conference,” it read.

"We provide one of the largest away team changing areas in the league. Every team, including Celtic, is also provided with a large area for team meetings.

"We follow all protocols and guidance to ensure the health and safety of all players, staff and officials.

"When Celtic FC visited McDiarmid Park on October 4th for an SPFL Premiership match, we made sure their every request and requirement was met. Celtic viewed all of our facilities before the game and no issues were raised. No issues were raised with us after the game.

"All during this challenging period of the past nine months, our football club has maintained adherence to the highest of standards. Indeed, the SPFL delegates have commended us on our work during this campaign."

Hamilton Accies also had their say on Lennon’s comments.

The club said: “It is not our policy to comment on statements made by other clubs. We are content that we meet the most stringent standards of Covid protocols for all people visiting our stadium.”