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Cleared by the club, backed by his board, but what damage has really been done to Neil Lennon’s standing at Wanderers after tawdry details of his private life were thrown into the public domain this week?
Reprieved boss Lennon will be in the dugout on Boxing Day hoping for a result at Rotherham United that could finally get us talking about football again come 4.45pm. That in itself would be a welcome change in a season where matters off-the-field have somehow managed to eclipse the vast underachievement on it.
The manager has issued an apology to his colleagues inside the club after a story in the Sunday Mirror divulged some distasteful information about the Northern Irishman’s life, guaranteeing unwelcome attention on the Macron Stadium.
He is yet to address the matter in public, however, leaving the unfamiliar face of assistant Steve Walford to pass on his regret at Wednesday’s press conference.
Experienced coach Walford claimed the matter was “forgotten as far as the football club is concerned” yet for many looking on from the outside more closure is needed.
The club’s internal investigation into the matter was thankfully swift – less than 48 hours from start to finish – but its vagueness and lack of specific detail lent itself to more questions.
On what criteria was Lennon being judged? What aspects of the story were being challenged? Who had the final say?
One thing that is not in doubt is that on Sunday evening the threat of Lennon losing his job altogether was very real.
Many fans have passed off the story as tabloid tittle-tattle, yet there was enough evidence to prompt Wanderers to investigate their legal options thoroughly, examining in particular the manager’s conduct whilst on club duty.
The Bolton News understands that a suspension was considered, as was the notion that Lennon could be in breach of his contract.
But by Tuesday the club said they had “dealt with the matter accordingly, the details of which will remain private.”
Lennon has emerged with his employment intact yet his reputation has taken a significant blow. The 44-year-old has managed to keep the majority fans onside through a difficult season, many recognising the crippling circumstances in which he has been working.
The last week’s events are bound to have taken their toll but Lennon has emerged from tabloid torment before at Celtic and seems determined to do so again at Wanderers.
Results are his greatest ally now and if the Whites can get on a run over the festive period, he may take a step towards repairing some of the damage that has been done.
Source
Reprieved boss Lennon will be in the dugout on Boxing Day hoping for a result at Rotherham United that could finally get us talking about football again come 4.45pm. That in itself would be a welcome change in a season where matters off-the-field have somehow managed to eclipse the vast underachievement on it.
The manager has issued an apology to his colleagues inside the club after a story in the Sunday Mirror divulged some distasteful information about the Northern Irishman’s life, guaranteeing unwelcome attention on the Macron Stadium.
He is yet to address the matter in public, however, leaving the unfamiliar face of assistant Steve Walford to pass on his regret at Wednesday’s press conference.
Experienced coach Walford claimed the matter was “forgotten as far as the football club is concerned” yet for many looking on from the outside more closure is needed.
The club’s internal investigation into the matter was thankfully swift – less than 48 hours from start to finish – but its vagueness and lack of specific detail lent itself to more questions.
On what criteria was Lennon being judged? What aspects of the story were being challenged? Who had the final say?
One thing that is not in doubt is that on Sunday evening the threat of Lennon losing his job altogether was very real.
Many fans have passed off the story as tabloid tittle-tattle, yet there was enough evidence to prompt Wanderers to investigate their legal options thoroughly, examining in particular the manager’s conduct whilst on club duty.
The Bolton News understands that a suspension was considered, as was the notion that Lennon could be in breach of his contract.
But by Tuesday the club said they had “dealt with the matter accordingly, the details of which will remain private.”
Lennon has emerged with his employment intact yet his reputation has taken a significant blow. The 44-year-old has managed to keep the majority fans onside through a difficult season, many recognising the crippling circumstances in which he has been working.
The last week’s events are bound to have taken their toll but Lennon has emerged from tabloid torment before at Celtic and seems determined to do so again at Wanderers.
Results are his greatest ally now and if the Whites can get on a run over the festive period, he may take a step towards repairing some of the damage that has been done.
Source
