Celtic chief executive officer Peter Lawell has given his support to underfire manager Neil Lennon at the club's virtual AGM.
A run of just two wins from 12 matches drew heavy criticism and protests from sections of the club's support and calls for Lennon to leave Parkhead with the club's attempt to win a tenth consecutive Scottish Premiership title seemingly in jeopardy with less than half the season played.
The team bounced back with a very important win against Kilmarnock on Sunday, making it back-to-back league victories, which seems to have buoyed everyone at the club.
"We haven't given up," said Lawwell during the club's AGM. "It is going to be very difficult in this big year for the league, but we haven't given up and there are circumstances that have put us in this position.
"We will go and do everything we can to get the league this year."
Lennon has already overseen the club's exit from the UEFA Europa League this season, having earned just four points and finishing the campaign anchored to the bottom of their group.
However, this weekend could prove to be a major catalyst in a turnaround of fortunes as Celtic take on Hearts in the rescheduled 2019/20 Scottish Cup final - a match that could see them complete an unprecedented quadruple treble, something Lawwell was keen to highlight at the AGM.
"Neil's credentials as a Celtic man and a manager are there for everyone to see," said Lawwell.
"He came back in February 2019. He probably had everything to lose and nothing much to win. But he came in, did a fantastic job, won us the league, the cup, the treble treble.
"He then took on the team again, we won the League Cup, beating Rangers in the final and we won the group section of the Europa League.
"We then get our nine in a row title and he has got us into the Scottish Cup final next week which is hopefully the quadruple treble. So he was the man in February 2019, he was the man for it last summer, and we believe he is the man for it just now.
"He has the trust and confidence of the players, he has the trust and confidence of his backroom and we believe at this particular time he is the best man to try and recover this deficit in the league and get us on to 10 in a row."
Lennon was still a Parkhead hero when returning for his second stint as manager, following the departure of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City, having won five league titles, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups as a Celtic player.
His three consecutive league titles in his first managerial stint proved to be the foundation of the ten-in-a-row chase and when the manager spoke himself he sounded a lot more bullish than he has been in recent weeks.
"My record speaks for itself when it comes to winning championships. I've won 10 as a a player and manager," said Lennon.
"I've been a Celtic fan all my life, this means more to me to than anything other than my family. We need to transmit our hunger onto the pitch.
"This is all new, I’ve never managed through a pandemic, I don’t think we’ve had a lot of luck with injuries and Covid. Other clubs have dealt with it a little bit better."
