Scottish Premier League champions Celtic have recorded a clean sweep of the SPL end of season awards. Neil Lennon picked up the manager of the year prize after claiming his first league championship, while defender Charlie Mulgrew was named the league's player of the year with winger James Forrest claiming the young player accolade.

Both players had already won the respective awards from their peers in the SPFA players vote along with the equivalent accolades from Scotland’s sportswriters. Midfielder Paul George also won the Under-19 League player of the season award. 

"Individual honours are quite special but like every other manager you can't do it without the players," said Lennon. "They deserve so much credit. I'm delighted to pick up this award because it sums up our season really. Winning the league was the thing. All these awards that come with it are a bonus and I'm up against stiff competition because there are some great managers here."

It caps a tremendous season for Mulgrew, now in his second spell at Celtic, and vindicates Lennon’s decision to re-sign the versatile 26-year-old after spells at Wolves and Aberdeen. This season, as well as performing solidly at centre-back and left-back, Mulgrew has chipped in with eight goals earning him his first international call-up, while 20-year-old Forrest has become a regular for both club and country since scoring on his debut against Motherwell in May 2010 during Lennon’s spell as caretaker manager.

"Charlie has had an exceptional season," the manager added. "He is a real example to any players who find themselves in the position where they are allowed to go by a big club. At this time of year there are always hard decisions managers have to make in terms of who to let go. Charlie went and earned his crust and has come back here a much-improved player. He got a wage increase last year but I will be talking to the board about a new deal. It has been a wonderful season and I am delighted for him."

As he prepares for the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, the Celtic manager is also expecting Forrest to take his game to another level having tasted European football against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes in this season’s Europa League. 

"James has the world at his feet,” he said. “I still think there is more to come from him but at Celtic he is the kind of player we like because he gets people off their seats. He is an exciting talent, he is very direct, very attack-minded and he has a great end product. At just 20 he has so much still to look forward to in the game."

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Alex O'Henley
Freelance football broadcaster/reporter/ summariser/pundit. You can also follow me at UEFAcomAlexO