Neil Lennon faces a very difficult dilemma this summer.
After the game against Kilmarnock at the weekend, he was talking about how he had finally emerged from the shadows of some former Celtic managers; but at the same time, he was also thinking about the events that had taken their toll on him over the past couple of years.
Despite being thrilled about an achievement he described as the pinnacle of his career so far, and despite thinking about how he could build on it to compete in Europe, he said he would need to consider what would be best for him and his family.
One thing we know for sure about Neil Lennon is that he is absolutely committed to Celtic.
His emotional attachment to the club could be enough to see him through, at least for another year or two, to enable him to build on the good work he has started.
But there are times when other emotional attachments in life have to take priority.
Sometimes you get a glimpse into another person’s inner torment through a subtle glance they make, or in a miniscule change of expression. Sometimes it is the imponderable evidence that gives the game away.
By the time we get back to the rough ground of next season, it would be completely understandable if he had decided to walk away. Not from Celtic, but from the hatred and bigotry that must have had such a damaging effect on his life.
Fortunately, few of us will ever have to stand in Neil Lennon’s shoes.
Few of us will ever receive death threats; few of us will ever be vilified in the media.
Few of us will ever be sent packages through the post that appear to be explosive devices.
And therefore few of us will ever be able to understand the kind of darkness he has had to endure, just because of where he comes from, what people think he believes in, and because of the type of individual he has been made out to be.
It is very true. I remember when James Farry (one time Secretary of the SFA) told me in the RAC Club in Glasgow that the SFA had hatched a plan with Kenny Dalglish to get him off Scotland World Cup Duty in the Summer of 1986. He had just had his most successful year as the new Player/Manager of Liverpool when they won the League and FA Cup Double. Dalglish faked a collar bone injury in the final minutes of the Charity Shield which was played early that year because of the impending World Cup. He limped off the Wembly turf holding his shoulder and it was announced after the game that he was ruled out of the World Cup. It was some terrific acting! Because Dalglish hadn´t seen his wife for a year they (Dalglish and the SFA) agreed that if he was to avoid divorce he should turn his back on representing Scotland in Mexico. When Farry told me I thought he was joking. I would have given my right arm and any of my wives for the chance of playing for Scotland. It was then that I realised that the “professional game” is not at all what it seems!! I still love football and Scotland though!!! If Neil Lennon decides he has to go because of family reasons I am sure all the Hoops fans (including myself) would thank him and wish him all the best. Obviously Dalglish didn´t have the balls to be as honest to his fans (who at that time included myself!).
Walk away Neil with you head held high!…….Nobody should have to put up with the mindless nonsense you have endured since taking the helm at Celtic Park.
An interesting and believable account of the Dalglish story back in 86. However, for me some supporters at times ‘can’t see the wood through the trees’ when taking account of professional footballers, yes, just the same people like you or I, with the same emotions and problems.
In my opinion, off course those who are talented enough to earn a living playing football are very fortunate, in the same way as professionals at the top of their game in industry are fortunate. For me, players are not like us fans, perhaps because they have played the game year after year since boyhood, and any hyped affiliations have been diluted year on year of playing rather than supporting. Perhaps players past and present simply see football as their ‘work’ like you or I.
I’d like to think if my marriage was in jeopardy, I’d take a few days off or such like without the wrath of the country. Would I be open with my employer or would I create an elaborate excuse, probably an excuse to keep my self-esteem without judgement. Therefore, I don’t see it as ‘Dalglish not having the balls’, but maybe after playing for years in Glasgow for both Celtic and Scotland, him trusting his instinct that for those supporters, both armchair and terraces who ‘ can’t see the wood through the tress’ would see his real reason as simply a mix up in priorities!
Hi Liam! I take the point that Dalgish obviously wanted to avoid a backlash from the Scotland fans and Scottish media – much easier to come up with an excuse and I would have possibly done the same thing had I decided to turn my back on Scotland. The problem for me though, still after all these years, is that Scotland had fought like hell to get to Mexico 86 – even the Great Jock Stein had given up his life with the all the excitement and pressure of the World Cup qualifier at Hampden against Wales. The World Cup only happens every four years and, as we know, for Scotland to qualify is always “a miracle”. At the time Dalglish was our most knowledgeable and successful footballer and coach in which case he was our “trump card”. Things could have been so different if only we had been given a chance to play it!
Hi Ian, just to clarify, the above reply was from AC, who has some very valid and interesting points to make. I can actually see it from both points of view though (which can be frustrating at times)!
Thanks for your commments Ian.
Post script: For the record, I believe it was in the FA Cup Final that Dalglish was “injured”. He had only picked himself in 21 starts that season but picked himself for the Cup Final……