Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon claims he is ‘demonised’ by Scottish media at times
Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon reckons that he is “demonised” by the Scottish media on occasions.
The Northern Irishman makes the observation in an article in The Scotsman today by Andrew Smith in which Lennon revealed that he “deeply regretted” his post-match behaviour after his team were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and said he would be writing to referee Euan Norris to apologise for his behaviour.
Speaking at a press gathering yesterday, Lennon alluded to the touchline bustup between himself and then Rangers assistant manager, now manager, Ally McCoist, at the end of an Old Firm game at Parkhead last year while referring to another bust up this week between Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Robert Mancini, the Manchester City manager.
Lennon is quoted as having said: “I saw the greatest manager in the game [Ferguson] having a spat with Roberto Mancini and people enjoyed it, enjoyed seeing Sir Alex show that passion, that he was up for the fight.
“I enjoyed it. Two managers sticking up for their own team. Has there been a huge public outcry about what happened? No. They talk about a bit of a spat – big deal.
“When we do it up here, it’s two pages full and I get singled out, I get demonised, I’m this snarling sort of presence on the touchline.
“I don’t think I get a fair deal at times. I see it so many times. I have seen managers on the pitch remonstrating with referees before, some of them a lot more experienced than me.
“Yet they don’t think they get half of what I get. I just think I should be cut a bit more slack at times.
“At times we do get lost in the game but if you take that away from us, you are going to have robots on the touchline with their hands in their pockets. You can’t take away the human element from managers.
“There are times we get angry and aggrieved and make mistakes in that aspect of the game but I think I get a rough ride.
“Over the course of the season, up until the League Cup final, there was not one thing I did wrong. We had the incident at Ibrox [no further action was taken against Lennon after he was sent to the stand at half-time by referee Calum Murray] which I have had the hearing for.
“So we are talking about one incident so I don’t think I have to change that much but I will temper those actions if I can.”