Lennon: We would only be a mid-table outfit in England

Celtic boss admits financial gulf to the top Premier League teams would be too difficult to bridge.

Celtic will again be runaway winners of the Premiership title this season. But Neil Lennon believes his side would be no more than a mid-table side in the English Premier League.

The Scottish champions have only a small fraction of the financial resources of clubs in the top flight down south. They endured a disappointing Champions League group stage, but last Sunday an understrength Hoops side held Galatasaray to a draw in the Antalya Cup decider before losing on penalties.

Their manager is convinced their shrewd manoeuvring in the transfer market would stand them in good stead.

“I think with my own group of players we would be OK in the Premier League,” said the Irishman. “We would hold our own. I really don’t think we would be in the relegation dogfight. Maybe we would not be in the top 10, either, but we would be mid-table anyway.”

Lennon bases his assessment on plenty of evidence, having been a frequent traveller south in his pursuit of potential new recruits.

“From some of the games I have seen, I think it gets a bit over-egged down there,” he said. “There is quality, no question about it. But at the same time, there is a lot of mediocrity as well.”

It is in the transfer market that the gulf between clubs operating on either side of the border is at its sharpest. Here, though, the Celtic boss argues it is possible to level the playing field through making the right choices.

“Listen, any player’s value is what the buying club is prepared to pay,” he said. “We went down to watch Jay Rodriguez at Burnley a couple of years ago and he ended up going to Southampton for £7-million. The way he is playing now, that fee looks like it was good business.

“We got Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe, and we feel we got a bargain there.

“Probably people weren’t sure about him at the time but we always felt we were getting a good player.

“Then there is Kris Commons, who we got for £300,000 from Derby County, and look what he has done. So there are still bargains to be had.”

And that, the Irishman argues, can be one of the most rewarding parts of his job.

“You are always looking to recruit well because, when you have good players coming in, it makes things better.

“That is what we are looking to improve at the minute, the recruitment side of things.”

Cheering news for those Celtic fans who fear complacency could set in with the club out of Europe.

“To an extent you are in a no-win situation,” Lennon continued. “If you win, it was expected. If you lose, you get criticised. I accept that but there is still plenty of incentive for us.

“We are looking to keep the unbeaten record going as long as we can. We also have a big Scottish Cup tie against Aberdeen to look forward to, and a clean-sheet record to protect.

“You are always looking to improve. Whether you can improve in the environment we are in is another thing.”

And that might be the most interesting comment of all.

Celtic won’t get to the English Premier League but their manager might.