Ibrox manager looks forward to ‘sharing a pint’ with Lennon and wishes him well

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he can appreciate the ‘lonely place’ Neil Lennon was in at Celtic this season and is looking forward to renewing the pair’s friendship over a drink.

Gerrard expressed empathy for Lennon whose departure from the Celtic hot seat was inextricably linked to the former Liverpool captain’s imminent success in stopping the reigning Scottish champions from winning 10 titles in a row.

“I can certainly understand the pressure and the sacrifice you have to make to be in this position as an Old Firm manager,” reflected Gerrard.

“Obviously I can only talk from the blue side. I’ve been in the job for nearly three years and it’s a very demanding environment.

“There is a lot of pressure involved and it’s part of the job you sign up for.

"You understand that if things are going well, it’s fantastic and you get a lot of praise for that.

“But on the other side, when things are not going well, it can be a lonely place. I’ve experienced that in my short stint here.

“So I totally appreciate the job that Neil has done for Celtic.

"I take no personal satisfaction in seeing a rival manager lose his job. Because I understand what you have to put into this job on a daily basis.

“I know Neil as a guy. I know his family from holidaying in the same areas and he’s a good guy. He has been a big supporter of my charity over the years.

“Obviously we have to put that relationship aside when you are big rivals and I have enjoyed the battles and going toe-to-toe with Neil on the sideline.

"He’s a good coach, a good manager.

“I’m sure once the dust settles in time, we can share a pint together again.

“But the reality in Scotland is that if the pressure’s not on you, it’s on your rival.

"If the pressure’s on you, it means that your rival is doing well.

"That’s the game me and Neil have been in for the last couple of years. I wish him well for the future.”