Soccer:Neil Lennon admits he is still in the dark over his Celtic future and has no idea when he can expect to find out if he will be the club's next manager. The former Hoops skipper enjoyed a successful spell as interim boss following the departure of Tony Mowbray in March.
Lennon claimed eight wins from eight in the Scottish Premier League, before Parkhead chiefs formally launched their search for a new manager.
Lennon said: “In terms of the job, it is still an ongoing process. It’s just as we were after the Hearts game. The club is going through the technicalities and there are applicants for it. I will be around for the next couple of weeks.
“In early June, I’ll go for the residential part of the ProLicense and the club visit. Then I’m going for three weeks’ holiday. There is no guarantee I will have an answer by then.”
Lennon claims he has “not a clue” about a bid to secure Hull midfielder Jimmy Bullard on a season-long loan, while freed Republic of Ireland midfielder Steven Reid’s agent says he has yet to decide on a move to the east end of Glasgow.
Niall McGinn will miss the start of pre-season training after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot. The Northern Ireland international, 22, is set to be out for two months after picking up the injury yesterday near the end of the last training session of the season.
McGinn missed the trip to Germany for tonight’s friendly against St Pauli in Hamburg and will still be recuperating when the rest of the Hoops’ players report back for duty at the beginning of July.
“It’s my fifth metatarsal,” the former Derry City player said. “I will see a specialist on Thursday to see if I need a cast or an operation, or both. It’s a big blow. It happened during a small game near the end of the session.
“It was going well until I went over on my foot when I went to hit a shot. I knew right away that I had done something wrong and the pain on the outside of my foot got worse. I couldn’t go to Germany which was disappointing.
“The physio said that it looks like a clean break and will heal well, which is encouraging. But I will miss the start of pre-season training and will have to play catch-up. I just hope my natural fitness can help me get me back as quickly as possible.”