TIME TO OPEN THE GATES OF PARADISE

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Lennon is happy with Dingwall pilot but wants to see fans at Celtic Park 300

NEIL LENNON believes fans should be allowed to return to Celtic Park in restricted numbers without further delay. Lennon takes his side to Dingwall to face Ross County today with around 300 home supporters permitted inside the stadium — an experiment that will be mirrored at the Aberdeen v Kilmarnock match.

Designed to test Covid protocols, the games were seen as gateways for fans across Scotland to return — until the Scottish Government announced that possibility had been shelved for three weeks amid a general tightening of rules.

Citing the evidence of his own eyes, plus the example set by American sport, however, the Celtic manager is perplexed as to why supporters of his own club are being made to wait for so long to attend games in a sociallydistanced manner.

‘We’re disappointed we haven’t been able to get fans in to our stadium with the protocols and health and safety standards we’ve set,’ Lennon said.

‘If this is a pilot, then at least it’s a step in the right direction.

‘I am really disappointed we haven’t had the opportunity yet. I’ve seen it in other sports and I think our stadium is as good as any in Britain.

‘We’ve been at the forefront with dealing with this pandemic in terms of the protocols.

‘We’ve had another round of negative testing this week, so what we are doing is working. I hope this weekend will be a success.

‘I watched the NFL game last night with the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs’ opening game (against Houston Texans). There were 18,000 there (in a 76,000-capacity stadium) with social distancing spread around the stadium.

‘I don’t understand why it can be allowed in America but we haven’t had the opportunity yet.

‘The way the club is set up we are ready to go. I live in Glasgow, I drive through the West End and I see people sitting inside and outside cafes one metre apart.

‘But the big thing for me was that NFL game. You have a big stadium that’s maybe a third full. I can’t understand why we couldn’t incorporate that at Celtic.’

Celtic’s season was disrupted when defender Boli Bolingoli failed to declare he had made a day trip to Spain until after he’d come on as a substitute against Kilmarnock.

Following the blatant breach of the strict 14-day quarantine rule, Celtic’s matches with Aberdeen and St Mirren were postponed.

Speaking after eight Dons players also breached the rules by going for a night out in the city, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a ‘yellow card’ to the Scottish game.

Asked if he felt Celtic were still being penalised for Bolingoli’s actions, Lennon replied: ‘I have no idea what other people are thinking, but whether it has anything to do with that I wouldn’t like to think so.

‘To me, it seems the guidelines change and the goalposts move every so often.

‘I don’t know about us getting punished but I think the time is right. There will be fans at Ross County and if it’s a success, I’d like to think there will be fans allowed in to Celtic Park.’

As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, Bolingoli has interest from Turkish Super Lig clubs Alanyaspor and Basaksehir and has clearly played his last game for Celtic.

On the Belgian’s situation, Lennon said: ‘He has been sanctioned with the maximum disciplinary action the club can take, so that’s the end of it now. He’s not trained as of yet but we’ll expect to see him maybe in the next week or so. I am not aware of any contact from clubs about it.’

Shane Duffy goes straight into the squad for Dingwall and Lennon can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions the Irishman is going through as he prepares to make his debut for his boyhood heroes. Almost 19 years ago, the man from Lurgan also pulled on the jersey for the first time at Dens Park.

While many others in his shoes have felt the responsibility weighing too heavily on their shoulders, Lennon thrived on the expectation and pressure that came with it all. He now fully anticipates that Duffy will follow suit.

‘I think it’s a huge motivation,’ said Lennon of signing fans of the club. ‘I understand his background.

‘It’s a great opportunity for him. It’s something he couldn’t let go, he couldn’t miss it.

‘It will work both ways. We’ll be good for him and he’ll be good for us.’

The fact Duffy is a lifelong supporter of the club may grant him instant popularity but it’s not primarily the reason Lennon signed him.

Although the player has carved out a reputation as an old-style defender, the man who has taken him on loan from Brighton sees attributes way beyond that.

‘Shane is very, very brave in the air,’ added Lennon. ‘That’s his forte, defending crosses or attacking crosses and set-plays.

‘He puts his body on the line time and time again. I’ve seen him do it for both his club and his country but he’s actually very good on the ball.

‘Technically, he’s very good. He’s a responsible type, he captains his country and he will understand the culture of the club. I always think it’s important to bring that type into the dressing room.

‘He gives us that physicality alongside (Christopher) Jullien, (Kristoffer) Ajer, (Nir) Bitton and (Hatem Abd) Elhamed. He gives us good strength.’

Hard on the heels of David Turnbull joining from Motherwell, Duffy brings to five the number of summer acquisitions either permanently or on loan. With Vasilis Barkas, Albian Ajeti and Mohamed Elyounoussi also in the building, the summer’s outgoings already stand at circa £15m.

Lennon hasn’t discounted the possibility of further arrivals but declares himself to be more than happy with the backing he has enjoyed from his board.

‘Absolutely,’ he insisted. ‘We have got a goalkeeper in, a striker and a quality centre-half.

‘We have signed a brilliant young Scottish player in David Turnbull too, so I am absolutely delighted with the recruitment.

‘Mohamed Elyounoussi also continued his loan, so we have brought in some quality.’

Just as pleasing as the incomings has been the fact that no key contributors have been lost.

Missing for the club’s past two matches, Odsonne Edouard featured in France Under-21s’ games against Georgia and Azerbaijan, converting a penalty against the latter. Despite Arsenal’s growing admiration for him, he remains a Celtic player.

Buoyed by his options in that area, Lennon said: ‘Odsonne trained the last few days, so he will be available for Ross County.

‘Ajeti is a couple of weeks sharper and Leigh Griffiths is not too far away from being involved.’