Red Adair, was the world’s most experienced oil well fireman. He’s credited with tackling more than 2,000 incidents both on land and offshore.
A Texan who stood at a modest 5ft 7in tall, Adair plied his dangerous trade for more than 50 years.
Whenever a major fire occurred at an oil field, wherever it was on the map, Red Adair – who revolutionised the science of capping exploding and burning wells – was sure to be in attendance.
When the going got tough, Oil Executives called on the wee red head to extinguish the flames.
Celtic’s interim manager is fast becoming Celtic’s own Red Adair.
This is the second time Neil Lennon has returned to Celtic as an interim manger. He’s also had the manager’s job full time.
Our own Red head Adair it should be remembered returned to bail out Gordon Strachan during a particularly challenging period of season 2007/2008, as well as arriving in 2000 from Leicester City for £6 million en route to becoming a legendary player.
Lennon became a well decorated player and a Celtic legend, he’s been successful domestically and in Europe as a foot soldier, lieutenant and as a General.
He presided over the re-building of Celtic from 2010 and progressed a side from losing semi finals to Ross County to beating arguably the greatest ever club football side containing Messi, Iniesta and the irrepressible Xavi in Barcelona, all against the backdrop of vicious street assaults, bullets, bombs and sectarian hatred.
It seems in times of trouble Celtic call on Lenny to galvanise a support and players and cap the burning wells.
As with Adair he puts personal safety aside and does his job and does it well.
This time it’s fair to say on this sojourn he has a lesser well to cap, given the playing talent at his disposal.
That he’s taken on the mantle as we go for the Treble Treble and has taken over from a manager who has won 7 successive domestic trophies, it’s an altogether different challenge but a challenge nonetheless.
Lennon returns to what will undoubtedly be a hero’s welcome from a grateful Celtic support at 3pm on Saturday.
Already banked are two victories at away venues where Celtic had previously failed to deliver this season at Tynecastle and Easter Road (Rodgers never managed a win there). Both wins have kept Celtic on course for a third consecutive domestic treble.
On Saturday he faces our most consistent domestic challengers over the last few seasons, Aberdeen.
This has been no easy start to his tenure, as Aberdeen showed in the Cup last Sunday they are an effective, physical unit and should ex Celt Mackay-Steven make the first eleven, they won’t be lacking creative threat.
Should we be in any way below par they are the type to take advantage. And if you start taking wins for granted you can come a cropper – as both Real Madrid and PSG found out this week in rather spectacular fashion in the Champions League.
With 10 games to go we go into the toughest part of our season for the last 5 of those we will be up against the other top six sides when the league splits.
A win on Saturday on the back of our last 2 impressive away encounters slowly dampens the hope of our nearest Premiership challengers.
Another win at Lenny’s homecoming will go a long way to extinguishing those hopes altogether.
We all know Lennon will face tough times, some things never change. Scotland never changes.
He’ll face unparalleled hatred for who he is and what he is, but you know what? None of us has anything less than total belief in him, he exudes confidence. He’ll face up to the flames and stride on.
As American Poet Charles Bukowski wrote ‘What matters most is how well you walk through the fire’
Our own Red Adair will do just that and we’ll have his back.
Niall J
