Dear Neil,
I hope all is well but please forgive me if I forego the niceties and get straight down to business as I’m pushed for time.
I see that today one of your mates is in the papers saying that we have reached the stage that you have two games to save your job. How did it come to this? This point seemed so far away in May.
Before we go further this is not a lover scorned letter. No, I have always been on the fence when it comes to you both as a player and a manager. I did want you to get a shot at managing the club. This was borne after your reaction to the defeat against Ross County.
Problem is, that mantra is being said too often and is now sounding so hollow.
Too question a players character is liken to shooting them through the heart. You are basically telling them they are the lion from the Wizard of Oz. This seems to have become your default mode. It smells of a man at the end of his tether.
If the players have no character why did you not see this when they were signing. The whites of their eyes should have told you all you needed to know. This is your team and they are no longer reacting to you. Why is this?
Has something happened to stop them running widely to you in celebration and instead they no longer will give 100% for you? Are they no longer reacting to your methods, have your methods changed or has their been an incident that hasn’t been cleared up?
I’m sure you have looked at yourself in the mirror and pondered all of this. You are that type of guy. I also fully expect that you have been on the phone to trusted more experienced confidants and taken on board their advice.
I’m sure you’ve also considered if the your new demeanor, which is placid and lacks passion isn’t you and you are being untruthful to your own skin. If this is a fashioning because of events last year then no-one will blame you. You went through something terrible and off course it’s maybe now taken it’s toll.
You talk of support from our major shareholder and Chief Executive. Off course you have a debt to them but that debt shouldn’t buy blind loyalty. If you feel hamstrung then we need to know.
That is the point.
I fully understand that somethings need to stay in the inner sanctum of the club but the questions are mounting and we have to get to the bottom of it. The club is bigger than all of us.
I’m not going to bleat on about deserving better as I feel fans who are needy this way are idiots but I do think we deserve the truth.
Good luck in the next two games.
Yours In Celtic
Sorry mate, we are all frustrated but your ‘open letter’ adds nothing to anyones impetus to make things better.
NL will continue to do what he can until such time as he or his bosses decide otherwise.
We cant change where we are at, we can give support to try push things forward, recriminations and petty bleating might make you feel better but it wont improve performance a jot!
Where are the recriminations and petty bleatings?
You seriuos?
Its the continuous content and tone of your article.
We all know what problems we have,its support thats needed now!
I have been veracious in this blog. I don’t see it as bleating. I’m sure the manager has asked the same questions. I want the best for my club. That is support and that is why I want the truth sooner rather than later.
Actually, unsure if you follow the comments but I have been Lennon’s defender in them in the face of some staunch views that he should walk. I don’t want him to fail. I want him to succeed. For tat to happen this open letter needs addressed.
No it doesn’t! Do you really believe Celtic can’t move forward until your letter get answered? I think we have more to get on with!
Off course we have like winning games. My letter will be answered by winning games.
A lot of home truth here. Nicely written and I sense the frustration that you and all of us share. I have never been a Lennon fan from day one but always respect any coach and give him a fair opportunity. I feel that Lennon has been the puppet for the Board in their attempt to appease the fans. I also felt that Mowbray was not given a fair opportunity to establish himself. Lennon’s approach at trying to sign every player available and when successful, most sit on the bench or do not get a fair go. Sometimes it seems that it only takes one exceptional game by a player and he is a hero to all but a few games down the road we are still waiting for the repeat performance. I am not sorry..but Lennon has had his chance..time for someone else.
“You talk of support from our major shareholder and Chief Executive. Of course you have a debt to them but that debt shouldn’t buy blind loyalty. If you feel hamstrung then we need to know. That is the point.”
Maybe he doesn’t feel that?
Look we’re all unhappy with results and the league table, Lennon included. We’re all looking for reasons why essentially the same bunch of guys (minus Izzy, but he’s coming back sometime) that did so well last year aren’t clicking this year. It’s 2 months before the next transfer window and I really don’t think changing manager again (that’d be 4 in 5 years?) will be beneficial.
So let’s hear some noise for the bhoys – get a wee run of wins and see how the team fares then….
I’m with you on the support part, count me in but……would you feel hamstrung if your CEO was meddling in football affairs which was impacting the performance and you were getting the blame? It’ bound to grate.