Celtic unveil Neil Lennon as their new manager

Celtic have today unveiled Neil Lennon as their new manager, Hoops chairman John Reid confirming the appointment at a press conference in Glasgow.

The Ulsterman, who enjoyed a distinguished career as a player at the club he has supported all his life, was delighted to have his appointment officially confirmed at last.

"Celtic is my home. I’ve spent the last 10 years of my working life here and I look forward to bringing back the success our great club deserves," he said.


“Whether as player, captain or manager, I’m a Celtic supporter first and foremost and no-one will work harder to put a winning team on the park.

"Over the past few weeks, I’ve had detailed discussions with senior figures at the club, including the Chairman, Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond, all of whom have been extremely supportive and I’m convinced that, working together, we have the foundations in place to put silverware back in the trophy cabinet at Celtic Park.

"I don't think anyone knows that club better than myself, it might just be other aspects of my game I need to work on."

As to whether he felt confident that he could help the Celts recover lost ground to rivals Rangers, Lennon was ready to put faith in his own abilities.

"I'm confident, yeah. I think it's a priority to challenge for the title every season," he told reporters at his inaugural press conference.

"As a player I knew how to get it done. I've done it once as a coach, albeit over eight or nine games under Gordon [Strachan].

"We know last season wasn't good enough. But the players showed me that they do have it in them. In the last eight or nine games they showed a level of consistency that maybe they hadn't shown previously.

"They proved a lot to themselves in the run-in and we can go forward with that optimism. Hopefully we'll carry it through to the start of the season.

"But I know I've got to hit the ground running, but I am looking to bring in a few players with a bit more experience and nous and a better mentality than we showed last year."

Reid echoed that delight, and insisted that Lennon's appointment was the culmination of a thorough and diligent process.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Neil to the permanent position of Celtic manager. Neil has Celtic in his blood, he knows the club inside out and is someone who has all the qualities to achieve great things," he said.

"The appointment of a manager is not a decision which any Celtic board can take lightly. Whilst some may have been calling for a quicker decision, we wanted the right decision.

"We have been thorough and professional and have made, I am very confident, a decision which will be proved to be a winning one.

"Not so long ago Celtic supporters were enjoying dominance in domestic football and real progress in Europe. I know we can regain this position and I assure our supporters that the Celtic board will be giving Neil our full backing to ensure that he can achieve this."