Celtic\'s cup triumph safeguards Neil Lennon\'s seat

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has had an incident packed first full season at the team Neil Lennon said he was up for the challenge at Celtic after hearing he would be offered a new long-term contract at the club following their 3-0 Scottish Cup final win over Motherwell. The Hoops boss collected his first piece of silverware since he took charge at Parkhead at the tail end of last season with a comfortable win at a rain-soaked Hampden to finish the season on a high.
It was a record-extending 35th win in the competition for the Hoops - their first since 2007 - and ensures Celtic finish the season with a trophy after finishing runners-up in the League Cup and Scottish Premier League to Old Firm rivals Rangers.
Lennon has had an incident packed first full season as Celtic boss, facing touchline bans for clashes with officials and forcing referee Dougie McDonald to resign after it emerged he lied to the Hoops manager about a decision to reverse a penalty awarded to his side.
Things also turned nasty for the Celtic manager away from the pitch as he was sent bullets and parcel bombs in the post and was attacked in his technical area by a Hearts fan during a match earlier this month as Scottish football\'s sectarian shame reared its ugly head.

The intense pressure the Celtic manager has been under prompted speculation he would walk away in the summer at the end of his one-year rolling contract. But in an interview before the final Celtic\'s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond said Lennon had a \"very positive\" future and would be offered a long-term contract.
The Northern Irishman looks likely to accept.
\"I\'m pleased and that‘s good to hear - although he\'s not said that to me yet,\" the Celtic boss said.
\"I love the job and I love the challenge that lies ahead.

\"Dermot\'s been a great supporter. This time last year after we were beaten by Ross County in the semi-final he was on the phone to me that evening and he gave me great encouragement.
\"Throughout the season he\'s given me a lot of good advice as has chief executive Peter Lawwell and John Reid. I\'ve had great backing from them all and the board in general.
\"The support I\'ve had from behind the scenes has been fantastic. We will sit down in the next week or two weeks and see where we go from there. It\'s nice to put a trophy in the cabinet and hopefully we can build on that.\"

At Hampden a superb strike from South Korean international Ki Sung-Yeung had given Celtic a 32nd minute lead.
Gavin Gunning\'s powerful strike from 35 yards was close to hauling Motherwell level, who kept things tight until Stephen Craigan\'s 76th minute own goal. Charlie Mulgrew\'s angled free-kick then made sure of the win in the 88th minute.
It was Celtic\'s first piece of silverware since their 2009 League Cup win, however the Hoops boss admitted the cup final win was tinged with disappointment after he missed out to Rangers by one point in a tight SPL title fight.
\"It\'s a conflict of feelings in terms of disappointment that we didn\'t win the league but there is a lot of satisfaction in the season overall,\" Lennon said.

\"We are here to win the championship, that\'s the main aim, so there was disappointment there. But the club has made progression on the field and off the field.
\"There is a great connection with the supporters again. There is a great feeling around the place and we\'ve brought that back to the club.
\"We\'ve finished the season the way we wanted to. I\'ve enjoyed it - I\'ve enjoyed the challenge, I\'ve enjoyed the players grow into the season.