Lack of experience could go against Celtic stand-in team, says Mjallby

JOHAN Mjallby fears inexperience could see Neil Lennon and himself losing out on being appointed the management team on a permanent basis at Celtic.

While the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County remains a telling blot on their copybook, a run of seven straight SPL victories has seen the rookie management team win the respect of a large proportion of the club's support.

Nevertheless, when asked if their lack of experience could count against them, Mjallby said: "Yes, because if you finish with eight straight wins and you can see the team is working a wee bit harder for each other and doing better than before we came in, you have to say that inexperience is the only thing that should cost us the job."

Speaking at the launch of a braille plaque for blind supporters at Celtic Park, he added: "I would be disappointed if that is the case, but we understand that there are always going to be cries for more experience and we haven't got it. We still have to live with the disappointment of losing to Ross County, it still hurts. But we have done our best and if we can end with eight straight wins I will be happy anyway."

Celtic round off their season with a trip to play Hearts Tynecastle on Sunday and will be eager to bring down the curtain on an otherwise miserable season with that eighth straight league win.

"The confidence is there now and the quality is shining through," said Mjallby. "Defensively we have looked stronger, despite injuries, and we are always going to be a threat going forward. It's been a great experience and I will be happy with my short time here if it turns out to be coming to an end."

Mjallby has the chance to become manager of AIK Stockholm in Sweden but he admits he would rather stay at Parkhead.

"Obviously there is a bit of speculation about the AIK Stockholm job," the former Sweden international said. "I played at AIK for so many years so I can sit on the fence on that one and bide my time. I'm ready for it but I'd rather be here.

"They asked me if I was interested a couple of weeks ago but I told them I wanted to focus on Celtic for now.

"Neil and I haven't spoken about it because we don't know what is going to happen but I'm quite sure Neil has been happy with me otherwise he wouldn't have brought me in. He knows what I'm all about."

Meanwhile, Mjallby says the Celtic board would have to stump up for a top-class goalkeeper if Artur Boruc leaves in the summer. The Poland international, whose contract is up at the end of next season, was this week linked with a 2 million move to Sevilla.

Mjallby said: "We have two very good goalkeepers at this club in Artur and Lukasz Zaluska but I would be disappointed to see Artur leave because he is a top-class player.

"He has been a fantastic asset over the years for Celtic. I think he has the attributes to play anywhere in this world – he's that good.

"I can't tell the board what to do, I'm not in a position to say too much about the wheeling and dealing, but if Artur leaves you would need to go in for a very good goalkeeper to replace him."