Lennon Off The Field Support

Last updated : 21 April 2011 By Ed_ScottishFitba

Celtic assistant manager Johan Mjallby hailed the support given to Neil Lennon by the fans on Wednesday night during the club's 4-0 win at Kilmarnock. The lead-up to the win at Rugby Park was disrupted by the  revelation that parcel bombs had been sent to the Celtic manager, a lawyer and a politician. Strathclyde Police launched an investigation after the parcels "designed to cause harm" were sent to Lennon, Paul McBride QC and Labour politician Trish Godman. Lennon had bullets sent to him earlier in the season and a suspicious package addressed to him was intercepted. Hoops fans chanted in support of Lennon throughout Wednesday's game and the Irishman went to both ends of the stadium at the end of the game, where he was met with rapturous applause.

Mjallby said: "He loves being manager of Celtic and we are lucky to be working for a club with such great support. I heard the fans and it was great because what happened to him was madness and a shame, and it shouldn't happen to anyone whatever they do in life. He probably had a wee tear in his eyes because the supporters showed so much that they cared for him. We noticed a bit more security but obviously the players know what is happening, they have seen the papers and watched the television but we have been quite good at letting the football do the talk. He is still the same guy. He has a lot on his plate and it's a shame that it's happened but I haven't really seen a change in him. He is in a good mood. Sure, it has been hard for him but he is a strong character and very good at making sure that the players are the main thing. Football is a release, he loves his job and this was the best way for the players to show their appreciation for him and the best present for him now, the three points."

A Kris Commons double and a Gary Hooper strike had the points tied up before half time, with Anthony Stokes scoring a fourth at the start of the second half. Lennon's side moved a point behind Rangers but have a game in hand. Commons was disappointed not to score a hat-trick as he admitted the off-field issues surrounding his manager was something new to him. The former Derby midfielder said: "It is getting out of control. It is nothing like I have ever seen. The players are fully aware of what's happening off the field but as footballers we have to concentrate on the job in hand and you saw tonight that we are committed to the cause. Neil was the same as always and it was the perfect preparation as you saw tonight. He hasn't changed anything with what's happened off the field, he is very determined and very confident."

Kilmarnock caretaker manager Kenny Shiels believes Lennon's troubles helped galvanise the players and support. Shiels said: "There were influential factors in the way Celtic played and the manager must be very proud tonight. They got an early goal which set the standard for the rest of the evening. When I heard my reaction was disappointment and sympathy for him, he is in the same profession as I am and I don't want anything to happen to anyone. I know if I was playing for someone, I would be doing my utmost to show I was supportive of him and that's exactly what the Celtic players did tonight. It's the best performance that I've seen from any team this season in the SPL. They were crisp in their passing and clinical in their finishing, it was a massive performance and we couldn't get near them at times. I don't want to take away from the quality, they produced that because they have that in them. There was so much energy emanating from the Celtic support. If I was a neutral I would have thought the Celtic support were fantastic. I have never heard the Celtic support like that. Not only were the players supportive of the manager, the supporters played their part too and the quality they produced was the icing on the cake."