LENNY HAS A SHOT AT OLE GRAIL
Neil given chance to ‘do a Solskjaer’ start with win at Tynecastle
NEIL LENNON will be given the chance to become Celtic’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he takes his place in the Tynecastle hotseat tonight after the whirlwind departure of Brendan Rodgers.
Lennon agreed to take on the job in a caretaker capacity until the end of the season following Rodgers’s stunning move to Leicester.
He will take charge of the team for a potentially explosive top-flight clash with Hearts tonight, returning to the ground for the first time since he was struck with a coin there in October during his time as Hibs boss. Lennon will be flanked by first-team coach
John Kennedy and reserve boss Damien Duff for the remainder of the campaign.
And the former skipper and manager – out of work since his controversial Easter Road exit last month – has been told the job could be his for good if he can have a similar impact to the one Solskjaer has enjoyed during his return to Manchester United as Jose Mourinho’s stop-gap successor.
That means Lennon could earn himself a bumper deal to return to the club if he can oversee a successful end to a campaign that sees the Hoops on the brink of a historic treble Treble.
At the end of a dramatic day Lennon said: “I am delighted to be named manager of Celtic again. This is a club that has been such a huge part of my life already and it is an honour to be asked to return.
“I have given everything to Celtic as a player and boss already in my career and I am ready to do the same again. I will be doing all I can to continue the great work that has gone on in recent years.
“I am delighted John and Damien have agreed to be part of my team. John will allow us to have continuity and Damien will bring real knowledge and experience to the first-team squad.
“I am returning to one of the biggest and best clubs in world football.”
Chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “In bringing Neil back to the club until the end of the season, we have appointed a man who knows what it means to be Celtic manager and someone who knows how to win.
“The club is in a great position on and off the field.”
Lennon will officially be unveiled at Celtic Park this morning before leading the team across the M8 for a live TV showdown with Hearts.
He returns to the hotseat five years after quitting the post, having led the club to three successive titles.
A Celtic source said: “We’ve all seen the incredible job Solskjaer has done at Old Trafford in a caretaker capacity. The challenge for Lenny is to have a similar impact at Celtic. He’s the right man in the right place at the right time and he can’t wait to get started.”