Chief executive Peter Lawwell appreciates the support his manager is getting from al quarters of the club and fan base. He is hopeful that this will help persuade Neil Lennon to stay on as manager. Lawwell praised Lennon's strength of character after another difficult and challenging day of his tumultuous debut season in charge at Parkhead. The lead-up to the game against Hearts included some handbags in the media between the managers; the ante was upped when a fan breached security to attack Lennon while he was doing his job at Tynecastle; then two men were arrested in connection with the parcel bombs sent in March and finally a package containing ammunition was delivered for him at Parkhead. However, when Lennon's contract is up for renewal in the summer, Lawwell does not believe his manager will walk away.
Lawwell said: "He's a remarkable man, his strength of character is incredible. 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 Scottish Premier League for their manager, if Rangers slip up at Kilmarnock and they get a better result against Scottish Cup final opponents Motherwell. Lawwell said: "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. 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."