IN light of today’s Scottish football update, which has seen the postponement of this weekend’s and the following midweek’s fixtures (including Celtic’s match against Rangers at Ibrox, previously scheduled for this Sunday), Neil Lennon has said he and his staff are taking advice on the unprecedented scenario on a daily basis.

Speaking at Lennoxtown, the manager said that he, his backroom staff and the Celtic players are following the lead of the SFA, the government and the medial authorities, and admitted the uncertaintly of the situation makes it difficult to plan for.

“I’m not a health expert, the decision to postpone the league has come from people far more well-qualified than me,” said Neil Lennon. “The public health is the most important thing. If that decision has been taken, then we back it.

“No players or staff have displayed symptoms. It’s been business as usual. We were training today and then we got word that the game was cancelled. We’ve given the players a few days off until we can sit down on Monday and see where we go from here. Hopefully, come Monday, we’ll have a better idea of what’s ahead of us.

“It’s unprecedented, I’ve never experienced anything like this in my career, and I’m sure everyone is in the same boat. The gym is here for the players if they want to use it, and we’ll try to get back to business as usual. We were preparing for Sunday’s game, but we understand, while still disappointed.

“To finish the league as is stands would be the ideal scenario. From what I gather, this is going to get worse before it gets better but we don’t know what’s going to happen, to tell you the truth.”

He continued: “This virus has taken people. It’s taken loved ones. We’ve got players from all around the world, and these players are our priority and have been since this outbreak. We’ve tried to insulate and protect them, and obviously the people that work here as well.

"It’s so unfortunate. It’s a nightmare situation. We have to put everything sporting aside. Your health is your wealth, at the end of the day.”

While the manager underscored that public health will always be of paramount importance, he admitted the logistics of the current situation are complicated with regards to finishing the league.

With over two thirds of the domestic campaign played, Celtic have established a 13-point gap at the top of the Premiership, and the manager is keen to resume the league at the safest and most practical time possible.

He added: “If the season was scrapped we’d be the champions, and rightly so, we’re 13 points clear. In most of the other leagues, I’d say it’s the same. Dundee United would need to be promoted as well. If you’re talking about the Armageddon of the league being cancelled or stopped, then it should go on the average points total, which would make us champions and rightly so.

“We’re over 30 games into the season, they’re not going to take that away from us. Are they going to do that to Liverpool? I would doubt that very much.

“Ideally, you’d like to get the fans back in. I’ve watched a few games this week behind closed doors and it’s awful. You want your fans in there to back you, they play such a big part. The most important people in football are the players and the supporters. You can’t have one without the other, really. I’m not a big lover of games behind closed doors, but if it’s needs must then so be it.”

Still, the manager stressed a desire to consider the bigger picture as the Scottish FA and SPFL continue to liaise with governments and UEFA in relation to domestic, European and international fixtures.

Neil Lennon comments on Scottish league postponement