Hinkel backs Lennon for top Hoops post

Andreas Hinkel believes Neil Lennon has earned the right to be appointed Celtic manager on a permanent basis. Tuesday night's Old Firm derby victory maintained Lennon's 100% Scottish Premier League record since he was named interim boss at the end of March.Indeed, it has been an encouraging end to what otherwise has been one of the most miserable seasons in the club's recent history.The one black mark from his eight games in charge - and one that at the time looked to have been fatal - was last month's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County.But Germany full-back Hinkel insists the former Hoops captain has done enough to be retained next season."I've gone through a few big changes in my time here and even more so just in this season," said the 28-year-old, who joined the club in January 2008."I think a lot of this year's problems have been down to losing good players and having injuries at the wrong times."But Neil is bringing us back to the winning habit and you can say he definitely deserves a longer chance in the job."It's tough to keep going when there is so much bad news and the Scottish Cup defeat to Ross County was awful."I hope I never have to experience seasons like this again but it feels we are moving in the right direction at the moment."Hinkel hopes Lennon does not repeat the mass cull performed by predecessor Tony Mowbray.He said: "Not winning any trophy this season has put everyone's future in doubt but those things are for people higher up to decide. Nobody will forget Ross County but we have to move on and show we are over it."Lenny has the right spirit to help us do that but maybe making too many big changes is not the way - the last manager tried that in January and it didn't work."So I think everyone knows we have a man in charge now whom we love and want to win for and, hopefully, that is the first step towards being the team we should be."Captain Scott Brown also backed Lennon, saying in the Daily Record: "He has brought the belief back, and the fighting spirit, and it shows on the park."We've got a platform to build on now and hopefully we can go from strength to strength."Lennon's former Celtic team-mate Henrik Larrson has also been linked with a return to the Parkhead hotseat.But the Hoops legend and current Landskrona BoIS boss said in the Daily Express: "I am the manager of Landskrona BoIS and that is all I have to say."

Source: Team_Talk