The Hoops secured a 3-0 win over Motherwell at Hampden today to claim the Scottish Cup less than a week after missing out on the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title to rivals Rangers.

And Lennon - who has been operating on a six-month rolling contract - looks set to have more to celebrate in the weeks ahead after the club's majority shareholder Dermot Desmond told a radio station he wants the Hoops boss to remain at Celtic "for a very long time".

Responding to those comments, Lennon said: "I'm pleased. It's great to hear, although he's not said that to me yet!

"He's been a great supporter. This time last year, after Ross County, he was on the phone to me and gave me great encouragement.

"Throughout the season he has given me a lot of good advice, as has [chief executive] Peter Lawwell and [chairman] John Reid.

"The support I've had from behind the scenes has been fantastic and we will sit down hopefully in the next week or two and see where we go from there."

He added: "I love the job, I love the challenge that lies ahead. I've had great backing from the board in general.

"There is a conflict of feelings because we didn't win the league but there is a lot of satisfaction from the season overall. It's nice to put a trophy in the cabinet and hopefully we can build on that."

Although those contract talks have still to take place, Lennon is already clearly planning for the season ahead.

He said: "I didn't feel any extra pressure going into the game today and I haven't felt much under pressure at all this season.

"It might be a bit more next season when the expectation builds but that comes with the territory of being the manager of Celtic.

"We will enjoy tonight and hopefully we will come back better and stronger next year."

Reflecting on his first trophy as Celtic manager, Lennon said: "I wouldn't say it's a weight off my shoulder but it's nice to have it on my CV.

"Winning the Scottish Cup isn't enough in terms of what I would have wanted from the season. But it's important and important to me personally.

"It's a great feeling. I'm more pleased for the players and the supporters than anyone else. It's been a great day for the club.

"We could have been more clinical but to win a cup final 3-0, and play in the style we have tried to play all season, is very pleasing. I'd like to congratulate Motherwell for their contribution to the game."

He added: "We haven't had a trophy at the club for a couple of years, which is probably not good enough for a club of our standing.

"I said to the players that they have to cherish these days. We were a dominant team under Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan and sometimes you take that for granted. When you don't have it, you realise what you have when it's not there.

"It's a nice way to end the season. They've got a taste of winning a trophy and I hope they are feeling good about themselves tonight."

Lennon now wants to add to his squad, while urging his current crop of players to learn from the mistakes of this season.

He said: "I've enjoyed the challenge and I've enjoyed watching the players grow into the season.

"Hopefully we will learn from where we went wrong this season and try to eradicate that. I'd like to bring a few more quality players in to top up the squad.

"We are delighted with the standard the players have set themselves and I personally think they will only get better."

The breakthrough at Hampden came courtesy of Ki Sung-yeung, before Mark Wilson's strike was deflected into the back of the net by Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan and a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick late on sealed the win.

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall said: "We knew all along that we would have to be at our best and I don't think we were at our best but you can't take away from the lads' spirit, endeavour and commitment.

"Celtic were by far the better side but the couple of bits of luck that we needed just didn't go our way today.

"There are a lot of disappointed players in there because we prepared really well but our top players maybe just weren't on top of their game. But it was a good spirited effort by them.

"There is nothing I can say to the lads that is going to take away the pain and disappointment but they should be proud of their achievements and what they have done this season. Today just wasn't their day."