Source: Team_Talk
Lennon wants extended Hoops stay
eil Lennon is hoping the Celtic board will soon be keen to offer him a contract extension and is relishing Tuesday's SPL clash at Hearts.[LNB] The Irishman was appointed permanent boss at Parkhead in the summer on a one-year deal after a spell as caretaker in the wake of Tony Mowbray's departure in March.[LNB]A home defeat to Rangers last month has been the only domestic black mark but the 9-0 win over Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday went some to alleviating the misery from that game and a long way to suggesting the Irishman is gradually stamping an impressive mark on his side.[LNB]Ahead of the trip to Tynecastle, Lennon replied to one query about looking for a possible new deal.[LNB]"That will be up to the board," he said.[LNB]"There was work that was needed to be done and we feel that we have made decent progress in that respect.[LNB]"But we are still a fair bit off from where we want to be.[LNB]"Obviously it was a bit of a gamble for the club to put me in charge with relatively little managerial experience so I am grateful to them for that.[LNB]"But as long as we keep making progress I know when the time will come and hopefully they will come to me instead of me going to them."[LNB]Looking towards the game on Tuesday night against a Hearts side buoyed by Sunday's win over Hibernian at Easter Road, Lennon said: "I was at the game (against Hibs), Hearts were the better team and they would have taken a lot of confidence from that.[LNB]"It's a great venue to go to, a pretty hostile atmosphere and we are hoping our players respond to that and don't be intimidated by it.[LNB]"Thomas Rogne is suspended so Jos Hooiveld and Glenn Loovens come back in to contention but we will talk about changes before the game and we will look for the best team."[LNB]Hearts manager Jim Jefferies was full of praise for his players after the 2-0 derby win and he is relieved to be facing another high-profile game.[LNB]"The feet are on the ground because we're playing against a very good team who are also going into the game on a high, obviously, after their performance on Saturday," Jefferies said.[LNB]"Sometimes if you're playing a lesser team you maybe think it's a foregone conclusion and things are a bit flat and they start well because they are thinking there might be complacency. So it's the right game.[LNB]"There will be a great atmosphere again and the crowd will be behind us, they were great on Sunday. It should be a cracking game."
