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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

Neil Lennon admits Celtic powerbrokers 'not happy' but insists there's been no fatal blow in dismal run

Celtic manager Neil Lennon insists there's "nothing terminal" about his reign as he insists his squad just need confidence.

The Parkhead boss is under fire after a run of just two wins in nine games, culminating with a 4-1 thrashing by Sparta Prague to crash out of the Europa League.

A Green Brigade banner called for the manager's head before that clash, and the criticism has only intensified in the wake of the result.

But Lennon, who admits his board are "not happy" but still behind him, feels only an injection of confidence is required to turn things around.

He said: "Because it's such a high profile year, a high-profile club, the criticism and the intensity and scrutiny is magnified and again, I don't think there is a million things wrong with the team.

"I didn't think there was a million things wrong last night but we are just going through one of those runs where everything is going in and nothing is going in at the other end for us.

"We are very determined to turn things around. I don't think it will take that much.

"The players, in some aspects of the game, are lacking a bit of confidence, but it is nothing terminal here."

Lennon spoke to biggest shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell on Friday morning and retains the support of his board.

(AFP via Getty Images)

He explained: "I am delighted and it gives me a lot of confidence and comfort going through a difficult period which all managers do, which all teams do, which all players do.

"We are not happy with the way things have gone over recent weeks and I am head of the football department and face of the club and Peter is the chief executive and Dermot is the main shareholder.

"They have been with me since day one, through the good times and what would be perceived as a bad time at the minute and they feel the need to offer suggestions, ideas and vice versa from me.

"They are not happy about things, no question. They are honest about things as well but they believe in me and I believe in them and I believe in the process."

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