Cup win earns Lennon new contract

Celtic manager Neil Lennon looks set to celebrate Saturday’s Scottish Cup win over Motherwell by inking a new long-term deal with the club.

The 39-year-old Northern Irishman, who has endured a turbulent season at the helm of the Glasgow giants, could finally focus on football on Saturday, and his men did not let him down – cruising to a 3-0 win at Hampden to secure his first piece of silverware.

Superb strikes from Ki Sung-Yueng and Charlie Mulgrew either side of an own goal from Motherwell’s Stephen Craigan were enough to hand Celtic the cup in a win sure to ease some of the pain of losing out on the Scottish Premier League to bitter rivals Rangers.

After a season in which he has incurred touchline bans, endured death threats, has had parcel bombs and bullets posted to him and was attacked by a spectator during his side’s recent league win at Hearts, Lennon appears set to remain at Parkhead.

Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond confirmed he would offer Lennon a long-term deal at the club and the manager was optimistic when quizzed about the contract.

“I hope so,” Lennon said. “It’s a great privilege and Mr Desmond has been very good to me in my time as manager so far.”

“Even in my time as a player, he gave me great counsel throughout the season.”

“For all Celtic supporters out there, he’s a huge Celtic fan and he has the best interests of the club at heart.”

“He was as disappointed as anyone with the way the season ended, so I hope he’s enjoyed himself today.”

Lennon said he hoped the cup triumph was a consolation for the club’s supporters still stung by the loss of the league to Rangers, who secured their third title in a row on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock.

“We’ve had a great season and fell short in the championship, but this is a fitting end,” he said.

“I’m delighted for everyone associated with the club. It’s an important day. The performance today merited it.”

“It’s the first trophy for a few years and the players deserve it – so do the supporters.”

“Motherwell did very well and made a great contribution to the final, but we were superb.”

“We were a bit too clinical at times and tried to walk the ball into the net at times.”

“You can’t deny the quality in the squad, and it manifested itself again today.”