Source: Team_Talk
Lennon wants backing for Hughes
Celtic boss Neil Lennon says the pressure Hibernian counterpart John Hughes is under is symptomatic of modern-day football.[LNB] Still unhappy from the poor end to last season, Hibernian fans turned on the former Celtic defender in the 3-1 Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat at Kilmarnock in midweek which left Hughes with one win in eight this season.[LNB]Lennon took over as permanent Hoops boss in the summer, following a period as interim manager in the wake of Tony Mowbray's departure in March, and he is well aware of the growing demands made on footballers and managers.[LNB]"Everything is relative in terms of everyone has their own pressure at their club," the Northern Irishman said.[LNB]"Results haven't been great for Hibs recently but if anyone can turn it around it will be him.[LNB]"I would say that people are too quick to turn on managers and players because I am a manager.[LNB]"But it seems to be an increasingly short time before people do turn on managers. It is the unfortunate part of the job.[LNB]"I think the way the game is, the average span of a manager now is maybe only a season, a season and a half, and it is ridiculous."[LNB]Lennon is aware of reports claiming there was a fight in the Hibs dressing room at Rugby Park but the Hoops boss insists there is nothing inherently wrong with a "bit of conflict" among players.[LNB]He said: "You don't want it to happen too often but there's nothing wrong with having a bit of conflict now and again in the dressing room and even in training now and again.[LNB]"Sometimes it can be a good thing.[LNB]"I haven't been involved in punch-ups myself in the dressing room but I have seen them and normally you get a positive reaction from it.[LNB]"There was one involving a couple of players under Martin O'Neill.[LNB]"There was a bit of shoving and grabbing shirts, no-one got hit or hurt and afterwards there was regret but also a sort of respect.[LNB]"I don't want to say who was involved - but needless to say it took about four people to get them settled down.[LNB]"I wouldn't want it to happen too often.[LNB]"I haven't seen one as a manager yet - but I've got Johan Mjallby with me just in case."[LNB]Lennon revealed that skipper Scott Brown has recovered from his ankle injury but insists he is not an automatic pick for the visit of his former club.[LNB]The 39-year-old, though, claims to be at odds with many Celtic fans who have still not taken to the Scotland international since his £4million-plus move from Hibs three years ago.[LNB]"There is no automatic picks at all but he has been a big player for us and one of more senior players," the former Northern Ireland international said.[LNB]"I must see it differently from other people. I think he has played well.[LNB]"He didn't play well in Utrecht but that was a poor team performance. Other than that I have been pretty happy with his form this season and the games he played for me last season.[LNB]"I don't know (why some of the fans haven't taken to him). Maybe they expect him to produce the type of performances that they saw from him at Hibs.[LNB]"But we don't normally play a 4-3-3 which he did at Hibs and he brings a lot to the game defensively that he might not have had to do at Hibs and obviously there is a big price tag which isn't his fault.[LNB]"But I have been happy with his form and would have no qualms about putting him back in if I have to."
