Celtic interim manager Neil Lennon, who has guided his charges to seven straight league wins since taking over from Tony Mowbray, is staying firmly grounded about his future and will take it on the chin if the Celtic hierarchy do not offer him the manager position full-time.

"Everyone is saying it would be devastating (if he were not to get the job). It won't. It's football and I have had highs and lows as a player.

"Very early in what you would deem my managerial career, I had a huge low (losing to Ross County) and came through that okay.

"So it won't be a devastating blow, but it will be a disappointment, yes.

"I haven't spoken to Dermot about it yet, I will probably speak to him after the game."

Lennon surely wishes he could have the semi-final back, as it came so early in his tenure when he was unable to rouse the Celtic squad out of its lethargy. The loss could be the one thing that causes the board to think twice about appointing him manager.

However, Lennon remains philosophical about it all.

"The way I look at it, you might not get that opportunity again so you have to take it and if I crash and burn, I crash and burn on my own merits.

"But again, I am pretty positive about things.

Since the Ross County debacle, Lennon has turned the team around, and the Old Firm win on Tuesday night showed how much his players wanted to win the game for the club, and for him. Several have come out in support of Lennon for the top job.

"Lifting and motivating the players and getting performances out of them, that's what has pleased me the most and I can't thank the players enough.

"Do boards take notice of what players say? I'm not so sure.

"I appreciate the players sentiments, I really do, but I don't think it will sway the board's mind one way or the other.

"But I'm pleased that the players want me to get the job."