Victory. History. Mystery.

Author: Rob WallerPublished 27th May 2019

Victory. History. Mystery. That could sum up Celtic's eventful weekend.

Victory over Hearts in the Scottish Cup final was achieved after giving what was arguably Celtic's worst performance of the season on an individual and collective basis.

But they did go a goal down and they did come back to seal victory late on in the game, just like the Lisbon Lions did on May 25 when they won the European Cup 52 years ago. That's what you call honouring their memory.

History?

Where do you start?

A treble treble which is unlikely ever to be equalled. Winning the Scottish Cup for the third time in succession for the first time in Celtic's 131 year history. Not a bad afternoon's work.

Mystery?

How about the venomous and disrespectful reaction of some Celtic supporters to the news of their club's decision to appoint Neil Lennon as manager on a permanent basis?

You would have thought, even if you disagreed with the appointment, the man was due better than outpouring of bile that has come from certain quarters.

It demonstrates a total lack of respect for someone who, for nearly twenty years, has brought various forms of distinction to the club as player and manager.

And most recently in the immediate aftermath of Brendan Rodgers' departure for Leicester City.

Lennon ensured stability when there was always the chance that the seismic reaction to his fellow Irishman's sudden exit could have caused a wobble in the ranks.

Neil's remit was a simple one, and that was to guarantee that Eight in a Row got over the finishing line.

You can't win Ten in a Row if you don't get the eighth title, and Ten in a Row is all that matters to 99.9 per cent of the Celtic support.

This obsession will also ensure one more thing.

If Lennon should fail to win the championship next season he will be removed from his job as a consequence of a furious backlash from the fans.

Celtic's Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, said at Hampden on Saturday evening, "Neil knows Glasgow and knows the city. He knows what's required."

In other words, Lennon doesn't live in a bubble. He knows Ten in a Row is the Holy Grail and the man who fails to deliver it will pay a heavy price.

He will not be unaware of the fact that many Rangers supporters also claim his appointment will mean an end to Celtic's domination of the domestic game's biggest prize.

That's the city. That’s the law of the jungle where this localised issue is concerned.

The manager accepts the challenge and understands the ground rules. He now requires Lawwell's backing in financial terms when it comes to re-building a side which has now clearly run itself to a standstill.

The fans who have turned on Lennon since Saturday night will turn on Lawwell also if the league title isn't won next season.

But as one caller to Superscoreboard on Saturday evening put it, Lennon ‘gets it’ when it comes to Glasgow's tribalism.

Even the manager, though, must be privately stung by the depth of the criticism aimed at him following his elevation from interim to permanent manager.

The last caller of the evening to Superscoreboard, on air when the news broke of Celtic's decision, sounded as if he had just been informed of a family bereavement.

But this kind of intensity of feeling is what is going to be experienced from this day forward.

If Steven Gerrard fails to stop Celtic winning Nine in a Row the chances are he'll be unemployed come next May.

We have moved on to unforgiving terrain where it is obvious no-one's feelings will be spared.

Lennon has endured a lot over the two decades since he became an adopted Glaswegian, the viable packages and the physical attacks being counted among the indignities.

But he has survived to tell the tale.

Now it is some of the supporters of his own club who have turned on him in the belief that the bar was raised when Rodgers was brought into Celtic and now the bar has been lowered by the decision to let Lennon replace him.

There are civilised ways of putting that point across. Rubbishing and denouncing someone who has done so much for Celtic is not the way, but I suppose that is the world we live in.

Management isn't a beauty pageant. It is about getting the job done.

Celtic owe Lennon for doing that when upheaval could have created turmoil