Lennon worries that derby will never be free of bigotry

NEIL LENNON fears the Glasgow derby will never be rid of bigotry.

The Celtic boss has not managed in the Old Firm fixture since 2012 when the financial collapse of Rangers precipitated a temporary break in hostilities between the clubs.

The Northern Irishman does not believe the rivalry between the two sets of fans has calmed during his time away from Parkhead.

Even during his spell in charge of Hibs, Lennon found himself a victim of anti-Catholic chanting.

At this year’s Celtic AGM, chairman Ian Bankier claimed sectarian chants aimed at Rangers manager Steven Gerrard were dragging the Parkhead club’s support ‘into the gutter’.

Lennon believes there are far deeper societal issues that need to be addressed before the game has a hope of being cleansed.

‘I don’t know if that day will ever come,’ he said. ‘It’s a facet of the game. The rivalry is always going to be there and that element, it’s been going on for more than 100 years. Why would I think it would change over the next 100?

‘It’s just a dark side of what’s a brilliant fixture. It’s got to come from the home, first and foremost.’

The off-field dynamic of the fixture has changed this season, following Rangers’ decision to cut Celtic’s Ibrox allocation to a few hundred tickets. Celtic reciprocated and both subsequent matches have gone with home advantage and finished 1-0.

Lennon believes the audience split will aid his team today but rues the fact the game has lost some of its tension.

‘I’d like to think that would be an advantage for us,’ he said. ‘Whether it’s what people would perceive to be a good idea or not, I don’t know.

‘I enjoyed us having a big away support at Ibrox and I’m sure the Rangers players say the same about Celtic Park. It diminishes it a little bit.’