Post by Taxigirl on Jul 14, 2004 13:50:49 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/northern_ireland/3893537.stm
Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon has said he will not be making a comeback with Northern Ireland.
Lennon quit the international scene in August 2002 after receiving a death threat on the day of a friendly at Windsor Park in Belfast.
The 33-year-old from Lurgan had said in June he would reconsider his position.
But he has now said his family did not want him to play for Northern Ireland again and his club career had benefited from international retirement.
"I think my family are reluctant for me to go back," he told Celtic View.
"I do not think it will happen as I would not want to have to put my family through all that again because none of us need that kind of hassle.
"At the minute, I have also found that I enjoy the break during the international games and the older you get the more important rest becomes in between games.
"I enjoyed last season and I want to continue to produce that level of performance and consistency.
"I think I reaped the benefit from having time to relax and takes things a little bit easy at times, when some of the lads are off on international duty.
"It can be demanding when you are travelling with your country and it has been good for me to have that time to rest."
Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon has said he will not be making a comeback with Northern Ireland.
Lennon quit the international scene in August 2002 after receiving a death threat on the day of a friendly at Windsor Park in Belfast.
The 33-year-old from Lurgan had said in June he would reconsider his position.
But he has now said his family did not want him to play for Northern Ireland again and his club career had benefited from international retirement.
"I think my family are reluctant for me to go back," he told Celtic View.
"I do not think it will happen as I would not want to have to put my family through all that again because none of us need that kind of hassle.
"At the minute, I have also found that I enjoy the break during the international games and the older you get the more important rest becomes in between games.
"I enjoyed last season and I want to continue to produce that level of performance and consistency.
"I think I reaped the benefit from having time to relax and takes things a little bit easy at times, when some of the lads are off on international duty.
"It can be demanding when you are travelling with your country and it has been good for me to have that time to rest."