Lennon: Snub angered Hoops 'heroes'

25 April 2013 15:48

Neil Lennon has hit back at Celtic's Clydesdale Bank Premier League rivals after describing the absence of his players on the PFA Scotland player of the year awards shortlist as a "smack in the face".

The Celtic manager argued it was "abysmal" and ridiculous" that none of his title-winning team had made the top four after their run to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Lennon revealed there was "ill will" in his dressing room after Michael Higdon, Andrew Shinnie, Leigh Griffiths and Niall McGinn secured more votes from their fellow SPL players than anyone from Celtic.

And Lennon could not contain his own anger after viewing the democratic outcome as a snub to his players, despite Victor Wanyama making the young player shortlist.

Lennon said: "It beggars belief that we make a semi-final of the League Cup, final of the Scottish Cup, win the championship, make the last 16 of Europe, beating Barcelona, beating Spartak Moscow, putting the country on the map again, and I think the outcome of those votes belittles all the efforts of the players. I think it's abysmal.

"Are people voting for the best player in Scotland or the most improved player in Scotland?

"There's a huge difference in my eyes and that's not taking anything from the candidates that were nominated.

"They have all had fine seasons, but to not have one Celtic player in that group is unbelievable."

Lennon's side sit 15 points clear of Motherwell ahead of their trip to face their nearest challengers at Fir Park on Sunday.

PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart earlier pointed out that a lot of Celtic players had received votes but that the nominated players had been the outstanding members of their teams.

Source: PA