Lennon hints at new Celtic deal

Celtic star Neil Lennon today gave his strongest hint yet that he would sign a one-year contract to stay next season.

The 33-year-old midfielder has yet to sign a new deal and fans are concerned he will leave Glasgow at the end of the campaign, with English clubs waiting to pounce.

John Hartson insisted at the weekend the board should do everything in their power to keep Lennon and the Northern Irishman has revealed they are doing that.

Lennon said: “Talks have been ongoing and the club will come back to me but they’ve made it pretty clear they want me to stay and that’s great from my perspective.

“I am going to sit tight and see what my options are but I wouldn’t be surprised if I am here for another year.

“Having said that there are no guarantees, but the club are doing all they can to keep me here so in that respect it’s great for me.”

The future of out-of-favour defender Stephane Henchoz is uncertain but he too is refusing to rule out staying.

The 30-year-old has only started four times since completing his free transfer from Liverpool in January but he is not too worried as he too believes there will be no shortage of offers come the end of the season.

Henchoz told the Celtic View: “It is definitely possible that I could stay next season but at the moment I don’t know what’s happening because no-one from the club has come to me and said ‘yes we want to give you a new contract’.

“I read what the manager has said about wanting to keep me and I was pleased.

“But no-one’s actually told me that they’d like me to stay and in that situation it’s difficult for me to say too much.

“All I know is that I’m on a free transfer in the summer so I’m happy enough to wait and see what the possibilities are for me.

“I had quite a of of choices when I came here in January and hopefully that will be the same again but at the moment it’s too early to say because everyone’s focus is on the last few weeks of the season.”

Celtic need to win their final two Bank of Scotland Premier League matches to be certain of the championship but they face tense away trips to Hearts and Motherwell.

The Tynecastle club appear to be in turmoil since this week’s dramatic departure of head coach John Robertson but Lennon is expecting a big reaction from his loyal players.

“It doesn’t matter what time of the season it is and it doesn’t matter what’s happening in the background,” he said.

“When either of the Old Firm go to a ground like Tynecastle their players are all up for it.”