Neil Lennon has thanked the Celtic board for their support during his recent troubles, but knows it will be results that will count at the end of the day in any discussion that will extend his stay at Parkhead. Lennon will be back in the dugout for Tuesday night's game against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park after serving a five-game touchline ban but is still under personal guard following a series of threats which included being sent bullets in the post. Lennon is on a six-month rolling contract which he will discuss with the board at the end of the season but he is well aware that silverware and not sympathy will be the criteria for judgement. Celtic have the chance to go five points clear of Rangers at the top of the table in Perth while looking forward to the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Sunday. Lennon is hoping to have both trophies on his managerial CV when it comes to talking about a new contract.
He said: "My professional life has been no different, I am concentrating on what we are trying to do. The other aspects of my life away from the club have been well-handled and taken care of and I have been well briefed on the aspects of the things I have had to put up with in the last three or four months. It puts a slight strain on things at home at times but I love the job and my family know how important it is to me and they have been fully supportive. The board have also been supportive. I have had great backing from Peter (Lawwell, chief executive), the chairman John Reid, Dermot Desmond (majority shareholder) and the other members of the board. I can't thank them enough and now I would like to repay that faith they have shown in me with a bit of silverware at the end of the season. But it is a results-driven business and I think that will be the overriding factor in what happens in the summer."