Lennon Highlights Managerial Mental Health Amidst Intense Scrutiny
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon calls for greater psychological support for football managers facing relentless criticism and job insecurity.
Neil Lennon, the 55-year-old manager of Dunfermline, has voiced concerns regarding the mental well-being of football managers, citing the 'instant' and 'over the top' nature of criticism they face.
Speaking on the Unmasked podcast by Diverse Diagnostics, Lennon questioned the adequacy of mental health support available to professionals in his field, who he believes are constantly exposed to public scrutiny and the threat of dismissal.
"I do worry about managers sometimes, are they getting enough support, because they are thrown out there, we bare our soul every weekend in front of the public," Lennon stated. He emphasized that a team's performance is closely tied to a manager's identity, leading to intense personal repercussions from both praise and criticism.
Lennon, who has previously discussed his own struggles with depression, observed that while support for players has improved significantly, managers do not appear to receive the same level of consideration. "In terms of looking after manager welfare, there’s not a lot up here in Scotland," he remarked.
He acknowledged the role of organizations like the League Managers Association in providing resources such as counseling and legal advice. However, Lennon suggested that the extent of support often depends on the individual manager's relationship with their club's ownership and senior management.
"If you’ve got a strong bond then they might see something. You might be able to have conversations behind closed doors, privately to say ‘I’m struggling here, I might need a bit of time, can you accommodate that?’ or whatever," he explained.
Lennon also reflected on the diminishing job security for managers, which he described as an occupational hazard. He recalled advice from his former mentor, Martin O’Neill, who told him that getting sacked is an inevitable part of the profession. Lennon has since learned to manage this aspect of his career, finding a better work-life balance and achieving greater personal contentment.
