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Lennon denies it's 'win or out' for him

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic v Rangers: AFTER RONALD Koeman became the latest manager to be linked with Celtic, Neil Lennon…

EWAN MURRAY
Tue May 04 2010 - 01:00

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Celtic v Rangers:AFTER RONALD Koeman became the latest manager to be linked with Celtic, Neil Lennon said it would be "grossly unfair" if his future is determined by tonight's Old Firm derby.

Celtic maintain no decision will be made over a permanent successor to Tony Mowbray until the end of the season, but the man who was sacked by AZ Alkmaar six months ago has claimed that he has the opportunity to take over at Parkhead.

“It [Celtic] is an option which I am thinking over quite seriously,” said Koeman.

Lennon, Celtic’s interim manager, has made it clear he wants the position full-time, even if serious doubts remain over his candidacy.

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Victory over Rangers, in what is otherwise a meaningless game, could influence the doubters, but the man himself does not believe a single fixture should be decisive.

“All I can do is be as persuasive as I can with the performances and the results of the team,” Lennon said. “I’m not looking at this game thinking if I win it I get the job or if I lose it I don’t get the job.

“I’m not – but other people are. That body of opinion might sway things one way or the other. But I don’t see it that way. I think it would be grossly unfair if I was being judged on just one game.”

Yet Lennon also dismissed the notion that the final Glasgow derby of the season has no meaning, with Rangers already confirmed as Scottish Premier League champions.

“I understand that people think this game doesn’t matter, but it will mean something to our players,” said Lennon. “We’ve not won an Old Firm game since the League Cup final last year. We’ve not won the last three, so it’s important we try to put that right.

“We have to salvage something from the season for the supporters and give them some optimism for next season.

“I remember my last Old Firm game as a player. We had already won the league but we lost the game 3-0 and you could see what it meant to [Rangers’ manager] Walter Smith, the Rangers staff and the Rangers supporters that day.

“There are no meaningless Old Firm games.”

Guardian Service