| Lennon Adds his Support to Youth Investment
By Richard Purden
Neil Lennon has decided to invest in Celtic’s youth development by buying
shares in the club’s new £15million share initiative. The proceeds will
be ploughed into a training complex and youth academy. For years fans have
voiced their concern that the current Barrowfield facility is an unsuitable
location for a club of Celtic’s stature. Lennon defended the current facilities
but is keen to see Celtic move into the 21st century.
He said: “I’ll admit I was a bit surprised when I first saw Barrowfield
for the first time after joining Celtic from Leicester City five years ago
but I’m an old-fashioned guy who thinks a couple of football pitches and
a place to have a cup of tea after training is fine.
“There’s no attempt to say that Barrowfield, our training ground, isn’t
satisfactory accommodation for a major football team.
“Getting an academy up and running certainly isn’t compulsory but for
the future of the club, the long term future, Barrowfield probably isn’t
really up to the standard the club is maybe looking for.”
Lennon, a lifelong Celtic fan, has become an integral part of Gordon
Strachan’s and previously Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side. He is keen to continue
his relationship with the club long after his playing career is over. Lennon
also defended the board’s initiative to once again rely on the fans for
essential monetary income.
“Investing some money in the project is just something I wanted to do.
It’s not a massive investment by any means but it will give me a wee bit
of interest in the club after I’ve gone.
“I wasn’t here for the last share issue but I saw this as an opportunity
to invest a bit of money.
“If the fans don’t want to do the same they don’t have to.
“This is just something that is of interest to me. I’ve always been a
fan and the club has been good to me for the last five years, so this is
a case of giving a little back.”
Lennon suggested that Celtic’s old-fashioned approach is a fundamental
part of their character but at the same time if the club are to progress
in Europe they must develop and invest.
“We’ve got to keep up with the Jones’ as it were, and a club of this
stature really should have training facilities to match its standing in
the game.
“But I always think this is a traditional type of club anyway, a throw-back.”
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