MX23RW : Thursday, July 4 19:15:35| >> :600:121499:121499:

Neil Lennon calls on "arrogant" Andy Walker to apologise for Dubai comments

Former Celtic striker Walker criticised the club's trip to Dubai.

Neil Lennon has called for Andy Walker to apologise for his assessment of Celtic's trip to Dubai.

The Celtic boss missed the 1-1 draw against Hibernian and the goalless draw against Livingston at Parkhead as he was self-isolating following the club's controversial mid-season training camp.

Lennon, assistant John Kennedy and 13 players had to self-isolate after Christopher Jullien tested positive for Covid-19 and chief executive Peter Lawwell subsequently admitted the trip was "a mistake" and apologised to Hoops fans.

Former Celtic striker Walker, speaking in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports, criticised the club for "dismal governance" over the trip, which he labelled "a jolly".

Ahead of the trip to Livingston on Wednesday night, an angry Lennon, who confirmed that one Celtic player who had been self-isolating had tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, turned on Walker.

He said: "You can't go on a public platform and spread lies and insults about my professionalism, my players' professionalism.

"About 70-80 per cent of the group are teetotal and you know the inference and innuendo that he is making. It is not a stag do, it isn't an '18-30′ even though it has been portrayed like that.

"We went out there with the best intentions.

"I want Andy to apologise because he was demanding apologies from the club.

"I want an apology from Andy because he has questioned my professional integrity, my players' professional integrity and the use of the word jolly is crass and arrogant.

"He accused the club of being arrogant last week. We weren't.

"Does he speak for the Celtic support? Is he all of a sudden the man of the people?

"Andy's been in the game here for 20,30 years, he has made no contribution to Celtic whatsoever.

"He stood up there as if he is a Celtic legend and a stalwart of the club, putting the boot into me, the club and everybody else. He is totally out of order."

Sky declined to comment when contacted by the PA news agency.

ID:431141: cacheID:431141:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3663:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Celtic manager Neil Lennon pictured on January 2, 2021
Read Next:
Neil Lennon confirms another Celtic coronavirus case after Dubai trip
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
 
8pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!