Too much pressure on managers, says Neil Lennon

NEIL Lennon claims the pressure his Hibernian counterpart John Hughes is under ahead of their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Parkhead is symptomatic of the demands made of modern-day managers.

Still unhappy from the poor end to last season, Hibernian fans turned on the former Celtic defender in the 3-1 Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat at Kilmarnock in midweek which left Hughes with one win in eight this season.

Lennon took over as Celtic manager in the summer, following a period as interim manager in the wake of Tony Mowbray's departure in March, and he is well aware of the growing demands made on footballers and managers.

"Everything is relative in terms of everyone has their own pressure at their club," the Northern Irishman said.

"Results haven't been great for Hibs recently but, if anyone can turn it around, it will be him. I would say that people are too quick to turn on managers and players because I am a manager. But it seems to be an increasingly short time before people do turn on managers.

"I think the way the game is, the average span of a manager now is maybe only a season, a season and a half, and it is ridiculous."

Lennon is aware of reports claiming there was a fight in the Hibs dressing room at Rugby Park but he insists there is nothing inherently wrong with a "bit of conflict" among players.

He said: "You don't want it to happen too often but there's nothing wrong with having a bit of conflict now and again in the dressing room and even in training now and again.

"Sometimes it can be a good thing. I haven't been involved in punch-ups myself in the dressing room but I have seen them and normally you get a positive reaction from it. There was one involving a couple of players under Martin O'Neill. There was a bit of shoving and grabbing shirts, no-one got hit or hurt and afterwards there was regret but also a sort of respect.

"I don't want to say who was involved but needless to say it took about four people to get them settled down. I haven't seen one as a manager yet - but I've got Johan Mjallby with me just in case."

Lennon revealed that skipper Scott Brown has recovered from his ankle injury but insists he is not an automatic pick for the visit of his former club.

The 39-year-old, though, claims to be at odds with many Celtic fans who have still not taken to the Scotland international since his 4 million-plus move from Hibs three years ago.

"There is no automatic picks at all but he has been a big player for us and one of the more senior players," the former Northern Ireland international said.

"He didn't play well in Utrecht but that was a poor team performance. Other than that I have been pretty happy with his form this season and the games he played for me last season.

"I don't know (why some of the fans haven't taken to him). Maybe they expect him to produce the type of performances that they saw from him at Hibs. But we don't normally play a 4-3-3 which he did at Hibs and he brings a lot to the game defensively that he might not have had to do at Hibs and obviously there is a big price tag which isn't his fault.

"But I have been happy with his form and would have no qualms about putting him back in if I have to."

Shaun Maloney, meanwhile, is hoping his impressive start to the season wins him a recall to the Scotland squad for the Euro 2012 qualifying double-header against the Czech Republic and Spain next month.

Injury blighted last season for the Celtic striker but he appears to be back to his best and has been endorsed by Lennon as a ready-made replacement for the injured James McFadden.

"It's been a really good start for Scotland and they are top of the table but with any national squad, no matter what predicament they are in, you are always proud and privileged to be selected so fingers crossed,'' said Maloney.