GO FOR IT SCOTLEND

Rodgers urges SFA to snap up Neil

BRENDAN RODGERS believes the SFA should be banging on Neil Lennon’s door and begging him to become Scotland boss.

The Celtic chief watched his fellow Northern Irishman Michael O’neill turn his back on the chance to lead the Tartan Army but is convinced another managerial compatriot would be the ideal man to lift a struggling nation out of the doldrums.

Rodgers will square up with Lennon in the opposite dugout when Hibs hit Parkhead tomorrow and the Celtic gaffer is convinced the next Scotland manager is staring the SFA in the face.

As far as he is concerned 46-year-old Lennon ticks every single box needed for the role as a former Celtic manager who has bossed down south and knows the scene inside out.

When asked if the SFA should be beating a path to Easter Road, Rodgers said: “Absolutely. 100 per cent, 100 per cent. I think they should at least ring him to see if he’s interested because I’m sure that could be a great fit.

“He’s tactically good. He’ll have worked with a lot of the players. He knows the game up here having also had a stint down south as well.

“He’s got a really good football brain. So, yeah, I think they should be certainly seeing if he’s interested in the job.

“There is absolutely no question for me. There have been a number of guys that have been touted for the job but for me Lenny has to be one. They certainly have to ask the question because he would be a huge success at it.”

Rodgers, 44, has been observing Scotland’s manager search with interest – especially with O’neill at one stage looking like a shoo-in for the gig.

The Celtic gaffer is torn between his home nation and his affinity for his adopted country which shares a huge chunk of his Parkhead squad.

He talked up O’neill for Scotland in the past but he can understand why his fellow Ulsterman has opted to remain with Northern Ireland.

Rodgers said: “From the outside I always thought it was a very good job but only because of players. I don’t know the day-to-day life of what it would involve or what the scope is to develop. “I don’t know salary, length of contract, so there are many reasons why but it would naturally have to have been a big pull for Michael to have taken him out of his international team job where he has done so well.

“He has been offered a six-year contract and I am sure on better terms.

“It was going to have to be something very worthwhile.”