Neil Lennon insists successor Ange Postecoglou will have to address the problem of wantaway Celtic players after admitting “disaffected” stars led to a malaise in their failed 10-in-a-row bid.
But the former Parkhead gaffer reckons some of those who wanted to leave 12 months ago might have a change of heart with the arrival of the former Australia boss.
Lennon made the stunning revelation following a Champions League qualifying defeat to Ferencvaros last season that some Celtic players didn’t want to be there.
But the Irishman insists they only had one bid which fell short of the club’s valuation and hoped to manage the situation once the transfer window closed.
However, it turned into a catastrophic campaign and Lennon admits Postecoglou will now inherit the same scenario, with defender Kris Ajer already claiming he will leave this summer.
Lennon – who confirmed the failed Ivan Toney transfer bid – said of the change in the players after the season was curtailed: “We’d gone from being rampant before the lockdown and when the boys came back after the three month break a lot had changed in their mindset.
“Some of them wanted to move on which I got because they were on the verge of winning a fourth Treble.
“People are saying Ten might never be done again but I was thinking four trebles will never be done again.
“Some of them had reached the top of the mountain and were starting to look over the mountain to a career elsewhere.
“That was understandable but it creates a little bit of disaffection and tension within the group and there was some of that, there was no question of that.
“I mentioned it after Ferencvaros. These players are still at the club and I’d imagine they still do (want to leave).
“But they’ve got a good manager in. Ange will go in with his eyes wide open and with a fresh pair of eyes and fresh philosophy then players might buy into it.
“I think Eddie (Howe) was first choice or talks had been ongoing for a while. Everyone uses words like ‘disaster’ but it’s not - the club is okay and the players are okay.
“He’s got a blank canvas and it might take time for him to put his own stamp on things and get the style of play he wants.
“I wouldn’t be worried about it if I was a Celtic fan, I’d be excited by it. Ange should embrace it, enjoy it - and just win.”
Lennon admitted the mindset of the players was a cause for concern last season but the financial impact on the game caused by Covid made it difficult.
He told BBC Scotland at the Euros : “We were in the throes of a pandemic so it’s one thing these players wanting to go. And before the lockdown finances diminished outside of super clubs who can afford.
“We had one bid for one player and it wasn’t anywhere enough. We decided we couldn't sell for that sort of money and wanted to keep them on and try and manage them through the season.
“It was very difficult for them and for us at the time. The mindset of the players, I felt, for maybe a few of them was that they had done their bit and when you have that malaise it’s hard to get it around again.
“We did try to sign players like Ivan Toney but couldn’t get the deals done, for whatever reason.
“We brought in players. Some didn’t do as well as they could have done but they were living in different times.
“Some were coming from different countries, going into the training ground and weren’t seeing anyone else and then going home and sitting at home alone.”
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