Former Hoops player Mark Wilson believes that Neil Lennon is the perfect person to come in and lift Celtic and claims only Martin O’Neill would have been as popular an appointment.
He says that the interim manager is the “right option” for the club as he has slotted in without any difficulty, and adds that even though the supporters are “difficult” to please when it comes to appointing bosses, he will get the same support from them that they gave Rodgers.
Wilson thinks that Lennon is “fearless” with his tactics, and if he uses them at Celtic, he will be successful as there are better players to choose from than at Hibernian.
“It will more be about lifting the side following Brendan’s departure. He’s already done that and there would have been no one better to do it. Neil knows the club inside out. He’s slotted in without any difficulty. It’s the safe option, the sensible option and for me the right option,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“It shows the character of the guy he’s willing to pick up the reins and get the job done. He will absolutely relish the opportunity to add to the trophies he’s won with Celtic. It’s difficult to please Celtic fans with managers.
“They were unconvinced by Ronny Deila but the club got it spot on with Brendan Rodgers. I would guess 100 per cent of the support were totally behind that appointment and it’s difficult to get that sort of backing.
“Neil Lennon is possibly the only other guy – maybe along with Martin O’Neill – who would get that level of support from the fans. Lenny made them fearless but that has always been his way. If he plays with those tactics at Celtic he’ll do well because he’s got better players at his disposal.”
OPINION
There have been many pundits who have given their verdict on Neil Lennon and how well he will do at Celtic, and it looks like Wilson is the latest one to give his say. He is right though, the club could not have picked a more safe and sensible option than Lennon, could they? It is hard to envision who else they may have considered for the interim role other than Lennon, and it is hard to envision them not giving him the job on a permanent basis. Like Wilson pointed out, he knows the Hoops inside out after his previous spell with them, and he knows exactly what it takes to win trophies with them after being successful in that department last time out. Rodgers left a hard act to follow but there is no doubt that Lennon will be able to live up to those expectations admirably – and if he can lead them to the ‘treble treble’ with his “fearless” tactics, then the job is practically his.