“Am I hurt? No. I’m a big boy and I understand that’s sometimes part of the job,” Lennon holds no grudges

Neil Lennon is happy to assist Eddie Howe in any way that he can as the former Bournemouth boss gets ready to take over the hottest seat in Scottish football over the next few days. And having had a few weeks now to reflect on his own situation this season and indeed what happened before the wheels came off the Ten, the former Celtic manager is now able to talk about what happened without malice or grudge holding against those who well and truly had the knives out for him despite what he’d already achieved as a player and manager for Celtic.

This healing is welcome and it needs to work both ways. The Celtic Supporters who wanted Neil Lennon out and made no secret of their wishes now need to reflect not on the last six tortuous months under Neil Lennon but on what he’s given the club and achieved for the club over the past two decades.

It did go horribly wrong this season and many will recognise that it was all an accident waiting to happen. But there is a new manager coming in, a new CEO and a new club captain and there is now a positive energy about Celtic conversations again, something that’s been completely missing since this dreadful pandemic kicked in and aided theRangers in their pursuit of their first ever major trophy. theCovid Champions indeed.

READ THIS…Neil Lennon makes classy Eddie Howe claim, offers his advice on Glasgow

Lennon holds no grudges and neither should we. He’s happy to give Eddie Howe any help or advice that he needs and hopefully he’ll be back at Celtic Park with the rest of us at the start of next season cheering on Howe’s new team.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live today Neil Lennon accepts that the reaction to the poor season that Celtic have had is entirely understandable given what was at stake. Yet Lennon noted that 5 trophies were won on the bounce in his second stint as Celtic manager, a pretty remarkable return for a guy who had apparently flopped at Bolton and was sacked by Hibs after losing the dressing room. Yet others (myself included) reckon that there was much more to his Hibs exit and the dastardly hand of Peter Lawwell was instrumental in manouvering the pawns on that particular chessboard after the events surrounding the failed attempt to get John McGinn the previous summer.

“Yes. Yes. Listen this is the modern age when everyone wants success yesterday. They look for the next thing after you have won a trophy so you don’t get time to enjoy it or dwell on it,” the former Celtic manager told the BBC.

“The last six months were pretty difficult on and off the field. Am I hurt? No. I’m a big boy and I understand that’s sometimes part of the job.

“I went in on my own and herded the staff and herded a group of players. That was a huge challenge and one that I embraced and enjoyed immensely.”

And given the winds of change sweeping through Paradise at the moment, Lennon gave his thoughts on what Eddie Howe can expect when hr takes over as the new Celtic manager.

“A club in transition. I have gone. Peter Lawwell the chief executive has gone. He was there for 17 years and was a huge presence around the club in a positive way,” Lennon stated.

“Scott Brown, one of the most successful captains in the history of the club is off to Aberdeen next year and Nick Hammond left this week so there will be a new head of recruitment.

“Whoever goes in will have a blank canvas but the magnitude of the club and the expectations of the supporters mean you have to hit the ground running as soon as you can.

“But whoever goes in it’s a great challenge for them and a very exciting period for them as well.”