Transfer snubs prove Scots football is getting a 'raw deal', says Neil Lennon

NEIL LENNON believes his failure to attract a high-profile British player to Celtic this summer is the consequence of increasing English disregard for Scottish football.

• Celtic boss Neil Lennon Photo: SNS

The Celtic manager missed out on a loan deal for Craig Bellamy this week, the Welsh striker choosing to join Cardiff City instead. Lennon has also seen ambitious moves for England internationals David James and Sol Campbell fall through as they signed for Bristol City and Newcastle United respectively.

While he has not given up on making a headline-grabbing capture before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, yesterday confirming his interest in Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given, Lennon is concerned at the SPL's growing image problem in England.

As he prepares for tonight's Europa League play-off round, first leg match against Utrecht at Celtic Park, he spoke of his quest to make his club regarded as a positive career move once more for players in England.

"I think we get a raw deal in how we are portrayed down the road," said Lennon. "People talk quite negatively about the Scottish game. We have to stay on the other side of it and try and keep it positive. We have to try and keep attracting that quality of player to the SPL.

"But I worry that people get a flea in their ear down in England, people trying to talk them out of coming up here. It could be agents, it could be other clubs. I think they are talking Scotland down in general.

"There were people at Leicester who thought I'd be better off staying in the Premier League when I signed for Celtic 10 years ago. I didn't see it that way. I felt it was a step-up. We have to try and make the club a step-up again.

"Celtic and Rangers will always have profile. You just want to up the quality in terms of how you play the game, try and excite people and catch the imagination again. One or two of those signings might have done that. I would have liked a few more British boys in but the way the market is, its very difficult to do.

"I think we actually have a better reputation in Europe that we do in England. Both Old Firm clubs are portrayed better in the rest of the world. Guys like Efrain Juarez from Mexico and Beram Kayal from Israel have arrived here with very positive impressions.

"The other thing that hurts us now is the finances. The Wigans and Fulhams can pay more but we are a far bigger club. When I came here, we could compete financially. But I'm quite happy with what I've got in so far. The board have more or less backed me in everything we have tried to do. We can't go to the Premier League to buy players, because you are talking minimum wages of 30,000 a week. But we might be able to get one or two from there on loan."

Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Given, who began his career at Celtic as a youngster, is a potential loan target after losing his place in the Manchester City side to new England No 1 Joe Hart.

"Shay Given could be an option," said Lennon. "I don't know where we are with that one at the moment. I don't know what Shay's plans are. Until there is contact, well have to wait and see. No call has gone in to Manchester City yet, but there might be one."

Coventry City goalkeeper Kieren Westwood remains an alternative as Lennon seeks competition for Lukasz Zaluska, despite the Midlands club's manager Aidy Boothroyd dismissing Celtic's first offer for the player as "3.50 plus a bag of haggis".

"I was annoyed by that," said Lennon. "It was disrespectful really. But I'll keep my counsel on that one for another day. We've got a bid in for Westwood. Adding a couple of bottles of Irn Bru should swing it for us."

Lennon, who made his ninth new signing yesterday with the capture of Honduran left-back Emilio Izaguirre subject to a work permit being secured, was philosophical with regard to missing out on his close friend Bellamy.

"We were right there at the death," added Lennon. "I felt like I was on the phone to him every 20 minutes for the last week or so. But I think Cardiff were always favourites in his own mind. Family reasons have beaten us rather than football reasons on that one.

"It would have been quite a signing for us. If you don't try, you don't get. We've come close to three or four now but we will keep looking. We need a couple more to get the squad to where I want it to be. We are looking for a goalkeeper and a striker. The midfield looks pretty strong and the full-back areas are covered. We might look at another centre half."

Meanwhile, Utrecht coach Ton du Chatinier fully expects his side to progress to the group stages - even if they suffer a narrow defeat against Celtic tonight. The Dutch side have already overcome SK Tirana and Lucerne in the competition, and Du Chatinier claims his side can finish the job in Holland next week.

"Any good result will be okay," he said. "Even if we lose by a small amount, we are confident we will be able to beat them in our own stadium. If we lost 4-0, it would be quite hopeless. Anything that would give us a fighting chance of winning the match would give us good confidence when we head back on Friday."

He added: "Celtic have the strength and they work with the heart. The coach is telling them 'when we start a game, we are going into war.' The players will see what kind of club Celtic is. Of course, we will warn them about the audience they will get here tomorrow night but I think that's normal."