John Hartson: Neil Lennon has still got plenty of unfinished business at Celtic

John Hartson reckons his former team-mate Neil Lennon is far from ending his reign at Celtic Park.

Neil Lennon alluded to having a shelf life as Celtic manager after his team failed to reach a quarter-final for the first time in 32 years.

But John Hartson reckons his former team-mate should cherish every minute in his dream job, rather than wishing his time away in the Parkhead hot-seat.

Lennon is on his way to leading the Hoops to a third successive title success, but failure to win either of the two domestic cup competitions has ensured a less successful season than last.

The Irishman has been linked with a move south of the border, with many believing he has possibly taken the club as far as he can.

Hartson, however, strongly disagrees, and insists his close pal has plenty of unfinished business at the club.

“Let’s get one thing straight Neil loves being Celtic manager,” says Hartson. “He’s very proud of that. He grew up as an Irish Catholic and he went on to play for his boyhood club. He then captained his beloved team and now he’s become the boss.

“He’s in a very privileged position, and he isn’t going to give that up lightly. I know him well, and genuinely believe you’ll have to drag Neil out. If he was to go, he would go from Celtic Park with a really heavy heart.

“The Celtic job is massive. There would be established managers queuing up if it ever became available. Neil knows that. He definitely appreciates the job he has right now.”

Hartson shared a dressing-room with Lennon when Martin O’Neill’s team were regularly competing in finals of both cup competitions, and has three winners’ medals to show for his efforts.

The Welshman knows his mate will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to overcome Aberdeen last weekend in the Scottish Cup, on top of their ignominious exit from the League Cup at home to Championship side, Morton.

“Neil will be very upset at the way the two cup competitions have gone, and so he should be,” Hartson continues. “Celtic always have, and always will be, expected to get into semi-finals and finals and win silverware.

“The pressure of winning trophies is part and parcel of playing for the club. The way things are right now, winning the title isn’t enough.

“And given how Neil was criticised for some of the results and performances in the Champions League this season, just reaching the group stage isn’t enough either.

“So that just highlights how much expectations have increased, and what Neil’s team achieved last season is without doubt a factor in that. But it’s hard to maintain those levels when you lose so many of your key players within a short period of time.”

Hartson spends his weekends watching top-flight matches in England and has seen numerous managers lose their job this season.

Whether the amount of hiring and firing that has gone on this term would make Lennon think twice about accepting a job offer remains to be seen, but Hartson says the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

“Some clubs give managers longer than others, but a lot of bosses have lost their job in England this season,” admits Hartson. “I think it has been more cut-throat this season than previous years.

“The demand for success is the reason for that. Owners set high expectations some want to win the title, some want to qualify for Europe and others want to make sure their club remains in the top flight.

“Football is a winning business, and if you don’t get results then sooner or later you are going to lose your job.

“Some managers get longer than others. David Moyes signed a six-year deal with Manchester United and he’s on God knows how much money. So it’s not worth their while getting rid of him, even though he has had a sackable season.

“You then see Swansea sack their manager, Michael Laudrup. They were sitting 12th in the Premier League at that time, were still in the FA Cup and the Europa League. But relations between him and the Board cost him his job.

“So many of the clubs in the bottom half of the table have changed manager this season. So it is isn’t as though you will get time to try and build something.

“I remember Martin O’Neill, when he was Celtic boss, saying you are only three or four games away from the sack. If you lose that amount of games in a row, the fans get disgruntled and they start talking about other names. You could do a great job but hit a bad run of results and lose your job.”

Hartson believes Lennon is a much-improved manager from the one who replaced Tony Mowbray at the helm.

“When you see him on the sidelines, you can tell immediately how much he has matured over the last few years,” says the Welshman.

“He looks far calmer in his technical area. He even sits down now, which wasn’t the case in his first year or so! I’ll repeat he has a fantastic job at Celtic. This season might not have been as good as last season when he raised the bar so high, but he’ll try to build a new team again over the summer and come back bigger and stronger again.”

Hartson is currently enjoying working in the media, and with his John Hartson Foundation, which raises awareness of testicular cancer and supports cancer sufferers.

“I’m loving life right now,” says the former Hoops hitman, who has recovered from his own cancer scare five years ago. The charity work is very, very important to me. As for a return to coaching or management, who knows?

“But it’s not as though I’m lying awake at night and worrying about not being involved in football.”

The John Hartson Foundation’s first celebrity golf day in Scotland, followed by a gala dinner, is at the stunning Carrick Golf Course, at Cameron House, Loch Lomond on Tuesday, March 18. For more details, contact Libby Emmerson on 07961 543254.