Lawwell hails Lennon's strength

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell is optimistic an unprecedented unity around the club will persuade Neil Lennon to continue as manager despite continuing safety fears.

Lawwell praised Lennon’s strength of character after another intensely challenging day in a tumultuous first full season in charge.

In a matter of hours, a fan breached security to reach Lennon on the touchline at Hearts, two men were arrested in connection with the parcel bombs sent to the former Hoops captain in March and a package containing ammunition was delivered to him at Celtic Park.

However, Lawwell does not believe his manager will walk away in the summer, when his contract is up for renewal.

“He’s a remarkable man, his strength of character is incredible,” Lawwell told Celtic’s Channel 67.

“He is proud to be the Celtic manager. I think he gets his energy and his strength through his job and through being part of this club and through the energy of the supporters.

“He knows he’s not alone, he knows he’s got the backing and that gives him the strength to go forward.

“I very much hope events don’t lead him to thinking otherwise, but, where I’m sitting, I feel he has the strength of character to take him forward.”

The incident at Tynecastle, which saw 26-year-old Edinburgh man John Wilson charged with assault aggravated by religious prejudice, overshadowed Celtic’s 3-0 win over Hearts.

But the result gives Celtic players the chance to win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for their manager, if Rangers slip up at Kilmarnock and they get a better result against Scottish Cup final opponents Motherwell.

“I don’t think the club has ever been more united behind Neil Lennon and I think the unity and energy that gives us should spur us on,” Lawwell said.

“The title’s not over yet, hopefully we can get a bit of luck on Sunday. But certainly we’ll be prepared through that unity next year and in subsequent years.”

Lawwell reflected that former Northern Ireland captain Lennon had been unfairly “demonised” and called for Scottish society to focus on the roots of the problem – an implicit reference to the sectarianism that has afflicted the national game since its early days.

“Someone has to grasp this problem because the last two or three months have been horrific for Neil and for everyone associated with the club,” Lawwell said.

“Unless someone really and genuinely grasps this problem and finds a solution, then God only knows what will happen. It must stop.”

He added: “We are the only football club who has been subjected to these vile and relentless attacks in Scotland and somebody has got to ask why.

“Why is it Celtic, and why is it no one else, and why is it continuing? We would hope the football authorities, governmental authorities and police authorities actually have the motivation to be precise about the problem.

“Clearly there are societal issues in there that people have to stand up behind. Once you identify that problem, we work together in terms of trying to get a solution. And it’s beyond football. These events are beyond football.”