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Neil Lennon held a Zoom summit with Parkhead mighty Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell, but the Celtic boss insists his future was not in dispute.
The manager is under heavy pressure due to a nightmare streak of just two wins in nine games that has sent the Celts out of the Europa League and struggling to keep up with the Rangers, the Premiership settlers.
A growing number of Hoops fans have asked Lennon to join the Green Brigade ultras in demanding his dismissal even before Thursday’s sad 4-1 loss to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic.
There was an online meeting between the boss, majority shareholder Desmond, and chief executive Lawwell yesterday morning, but Lennon insisted he has the backing of the men who make the decisions at Celtic Park.
He said: “It was not a special army council meeting or a COBRA cabinet meeting. It was a normal call we got. It was no big deal.
“We are going through a rough patch and we are looking for solutions.
“I talk to Dermot twice a week and I talk to Peter every day.
“We had another one on Friday morning.
“It was about, ‘Where can we improve things on and off the field for the players?’
“We are totally united and we are determined to make this a good season.
“It was a very productive conversation and I have your full support.
“They have been with me from day one, from good times to what would be perceived as bad times.
“It is very encouraging to get their support, but it is not surprising. I have a good relationship with them.
“They are not happy with things, there is no doubt, and they are honest, but they believe in me and I believe in them.
“Dermot is honest with me and I am with him. The same goes for Peter.
“We are not smoothing any cracks here. We are not saying that everything is fine, obviously it is not.
“We are honest enough with each other to debate that.
(Image: Daily log)
“They are trying to help me and I am trying to help the players. It wasn’t like a big test for me. “
Lennon insisted that discussions with the best men were nothing out of the ordinary, but admitted that he had crisis talks in the wake of the Sparta fill.
Celtic take on Ross County in the Betfred Cup this weekend and need to find a way before their 10 hopes in a row are in ruins.
Lennon said: “I had a long talk with the players and what they need now is my support. I will give them energy and I will be convinced that they are good players.
“They have proven it. The class is permanent and the form is temporary.
“They will come sooner rather than later. Every player or coach goes through a difficult streak in their career.
“I have had much worse than this, to varying degrees.
“I need to keep a calm head and a sense of perspective. I spoke to the players after the game in Prague and opened the matter to them.
“We are all together and very close.
“We are not happy with the way things are and we are disappointed by the fans.
“The players are feeling it and they want to fix it.”
Lennon needs a reaction at Celtic Park on Sunday but is confident that he is the right man for the job and that the team has the tools to turn him around.
He said: “I am looking forward to it as we are starting our League Cup defense.
“It would be good to win the game and win it well and go from there.
“A great month is coming. This is not terminal in any way.
“Europe is over now. We need to look at home games.
“The other two Europa League games may give me a chance to freshen things up and get some games for the players.”
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