SOCCER:NEIL LENNON has agreed an improved contract to stay as the manager of Celtic. Lennon spent last season on a six-month rolling deal, on a salary thought to be worth about €226,000. The wages of Lennon and his coaches, Alan Thompson, Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker, are understood to have totalled no more than €450,000.
Despite Lennon’s failure to reclaim the Scottish Premier League title from Rangers, the Parkhead board recognised a clear improvement in performances after Lennon replaced Tony Mowbray.
The manager’s new contract was agreed and ratified by the board before he left Scotland for a family holiday a fortnight ago. The 39-year-old will put pen to paper when he returns to work today.
Lennon has been given a higher salary – believed to be more than double last season’s terms – and a 12-month rolling deal; former Celtic managers like Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan had similar contracts.
Incentive-based bonuses are included in the agreement and Thompson, Mjallby and Parker are likely to have their terms enhanced.
Lennon faced a series of high-profile security threats last season, including a touchline attack, but said he would not be forced out of a club he served as a player. The former Northern Ireland midfielder is under close security surveillance.
There will be tension between Lennon and the new Rangers manager, Ally McCoist, next season – the two clashed on the Celtic Park touchline following a game on March 2nd.
Lennon will face a tough task in convincing Beram Kayal to commit his future to Celtic. Celtic want to offer the Israel midfielder improved terms but Kayal is considering his options, in the light of interest from a number of English clubs.
Celtic are also keen to give a new contract to Emilio Izaguirre, their Honduran full-back who, like Kayal, has attracted admiring glances from England. Lennon’s other main aim before the new season starts is to sign a goalkeeper. Fraser Forster, Celtic’s goalkeeper last season, has returned to Newcastle following the completion of a loan spell.
Celtic are interested in Shay Given but may be priced out of a move for him, with Manchester City reportedly looking for a meaningful fee for the 35-year-old Republic of Ireland player.
The Maccabi Petah Tikva striker Omer Damari, rated at €2.8 million, has emerged as a transfer target for Celtic. Both halves of the Old Firm are reportedly interested in Crystal Palace’s Neil Danns.
Rangers have failed in their bid to sign Israel international Tomer Hemed, according to the player’s agent. McCoist revealed this week that the Scottish champions had offered the 24-year-old striker a contract after holding discussions with him. “Rangers are a fantastic club and Tomer knows that so it was a very difficult decision for him. However, in the end, he decided to pursue the opportunity presented to him from Spain,” said Max Meltzer.
Paul Ince is among the names being considered by Birmingham City as they look at potential contenders to replace Alex McLeish.
The club have spoken to the former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton and are considering offering Gianfranco Zola the chance to return to football a year after leaving West Ham.
Harry Redknapp has urged Tottenham to show wantaway midfielder Luka Modric that he can realise his dreams with the north London club. The 25-year-old Croatia international stunned Spurs supporters by declaring he wants to leave White Hart Lane, and will have enraged some by announcing Chelsea as his preferred destination.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy responded by ordering Chelsea to drop their pursuit of the player, insisting he was not for sale “at any price” to any club.
Redknapp now wants Tottenham to bolster their own squad and prove to Modric he does not need to join “a bigger club” to win silverware. “I think we have to show him our ambition, which we will do,” Redknapp said yesterday. “If we can add one or two good players to our squad there’s no reason we can’t have another great season.”
Guardian Service
