By fans just like favourite Burns
you are hurting just now, be in his shoes for an hour today. I don’t care what anybody feels like at this moment, no one fees as bad as him.”
And Strachan has also insisted that the growing presence of Rangers has given Lennon problems that the Parkhead side haven’t had to deal with in any time over the last decade or so.
Such a theory is underlined by the fact that Celtic, in theory, could still eclipse their points tally from Brendan Rodgers’ second season while there is also the chance that this term, for all its faults, could still end with a higher points tally than from three of the nine-in-a-row years.
“Rangers have been terrific. They’ve not just shown it in the league they’ve shown it in Europe. They have got better and better,” said Strachan. “No one in the previous eight years had ever had to deal with a side as good as them – nowhere near the Rangers teams we are seeing just now.
“They were bang average and are now completely different. When it settles down, there will be a time to look back over the past 20 years at Celtic and see how we got to there and now. He’s up there with the top people that’s ever played for the club. He’s managed the club, coached the club, he’s been everything.”
Strachan is confident that after a period out of football that Lennon will look to get back to it.
“I hope he’s not lost to the game,” he said. “Where do you go after this? It’s not easy leaving the Celtic job. It’s hard to see what he’ll want to do with himself.
“But the strange thing is that after a period of time, you miss the madness of the West of Scotland.”
HIBS head coach Jack Ross admits the club could reach a ‘tipping point’ of having to withdraw Ofir Marciano’s contract offer as the goalkeeper stalls on signing fresh terms.
The Israel international, who has been linked with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in his homeland, has been involved in protracted discussions with the Leith side. Marciano is out of contract this summer following five successful years at Easter Road and has so far been reluctant to commit his future to the club.
And Ross admits there will become a stage when he will have to start looking for a new number one.
Ross said: “In terms of
Ofir, players have their own individual situations to consider.
“Discussions are ongoing but I don’t know how close they are to a resolution and it is always better to get that sooner rather than later.
“You have to retain a sense of perspective and remember that any decision is professional, not personal and as long as we are all open, they know there will be a tipping point whereby we have to explore other options and that means that the offer may not be there for them any more.
“They understand the risks of not committing but if you keep an open dialogue then when you do reach a point where you have to start looking at alternatives the player will understand if one of those comes to fruition. They can’t have any complaints.”
DANNY DEVINE knows Caley Thistle can’t afford to let the events of a traumatic week affect their performance against title favourites Hearts.
With manager John Robertson granted indefinite leave to recover from personal issues, the rapid arrival of Neil McCann as temporary replacement could easily disorientate the Inverness dressing room at a crucial time in the campaign.
Northern Irishman Devine, as one of the more senior statesmen in a youthful squad, has been helping keep the players focused on the task in hand.
The 28-year-old said: “It’s something we have to deal with and take in our stride. It’s what the gaffer needed, a little time off, and we’re happy for him that he’s got that.
“We’re looking forward to see what Neil brings in also.
“We need to concentrate on the football side of things. Our focus has to be solely on getting three points.
“You hear things going on away from the football side and it’s important for us not to let it affect us. It doesn’t matter who’s come in – it’s up to us to put the performance in.
“Neil is completely different to the manager before and he’s made clear he’s not going to change an awful lot.
“But by the same measure, he has his own ideas and wants us to completely buy into it for the time being.”