Celtic pundit Kevin Graham has criticised the club’s hierarchy for not having a plan B in place, in case of Neil Lennon’s departure, as well as making the accusation that Dermot Desmond didn’t keep Lennon because of witnessing a riot outside Celtic Park.
Graham was a guest on the latest episode of the ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ podcast and the panel discussed multiple issues involving the Bhoys. One topic of discussion was Neil Lennon and Graham believes that the lack of plan B from the club’s board is the reason why he is still in the job. He slammed the club for having no plan at all.
The Hoops are currently 11 points behind the Gers and they have won just a couple of games out of their last 11 outings in all competitions. They have already been knocked out of the Europa League and they have been knocked out of the League Cup as well. Following the loss to Ross County at Parkhead, protests had taken place outside the club’s stadium.
Do Celtic have any replacements lined up for Lennon?
Yes
No
Graham believes that there is no way that Dermot Desmond could’ve looked at the alleged protests outside Parkhead and would’ve thought that Lennon can still turn it around.
He said (24:14): “We’re all here going what has Neil Lennon done in the last 11 games to actually say that he can turn it around, the answer is absolutely hee-haw – absolutely nothing. Not for one minute do I actually believe that Dermot Desmond saw a riot outside Celtic Park allegedly on a Sunday night and decided, I’m going to keep Neil Lennon. That’s a load of rubbish, that’s a smokescreen.
“Is it because they haven’t got any Plan B? The plan A is to keep Neil, as we say – is there no plan in whatsoever? It bemuses me.”
TIF Thoughts on Graham’s comments regarding Celtic’s lack of plan B…
While the club is publicly backing Lennon to succeed at Parkhead, it has been reported that the manager was shown a yellow card after the loss in the Old Firm derby and following that, Eddie Howe, Roy Keane and Martin O’Neill were contacted to potentially replace Lennon.
This suggests that the club might have a plan B in place as a potential replacement for Lennon. Jim White has also said that Peter Lawwell has already had a golfing session with Howe. So perhaps, the club is doing some work in the background to find candidates to replace Lennon and Graham is wrong to assume that they have no plan at all.
Although, if, as Graham says, Dermot Desmond has told a lie about why he kept Lennon on at Celtic, then that’s a brave move. Though, of course, Graham’s statement is simply an opinion, so it remains to be seen as to whether Desmond did in fact make his decision based off a supposed riot.