Neil Lennon cannot be considered as a viable Celtic option to replace Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Handing Neil Lennon the Celtic job for a second time was a massive blunder, doing so for a third time would be a catastrophic blunder…

Neil Lennon of Celtic gets tackled by Mark Burchill of Dunfermline Athletic during the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park on May 26, 2007.(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

Celtic supporters were somewhat taken aback yesterday when a well known betting site announced a list of names complete with odds, who they believe has the best chance of taking the managerial reins at Celtic Park if Martin O’Neill does decide to call it a day over the next few weeks.

At the top of said list as an  odds on favourite was none other than Neil Francis Lennon.

Listen, I’ve no problem with Neil Lennon, who I believe fully deserves his status as a Celtic legend due to his contributions to the club as both player and manager. But it goes without saying that he shouldn’t even be mentioned as a candidate for the position never mind be seriously considered for the Celtic job.

Neil Lennon coach of Celtic celebrates with the Premier League trophy following the Premier League match between Celtic and Hearts, at Celtic Park on May 13, 2012. (Photo by Lynne Cameron-Pool/Getty Images)

Neil did a terrific job in his first spell as manager, and was a relative success in his second spell before it all rather predictably went down hill as the club suffered its bleakest season in the past two decades.

We have had echoes of that already this season in Linz and over the past three matches, most notably on Sunday afternoon as a shambles of a teamsheet and formation led to a shambolic performance so reminiscent of the covid season.

Legend has it that Peter Lawwell offered Neil Lennon the job in the showers in the aftermath of a Scottish cup final win over Hearts in May 2019, and I think it’s safe to say that he should have stayed put with the rest of the Fat Cats up in the comfort of the executive boxes.

Neil Lennon, Manager of Celtic lifts the Scottish Cup with Scott Brown of Celtic after victory in a penalty shoot out in the Scottish Cup final match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Hampden on December 20, 2020 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Despite winning more honours, it was soon evident we were going backwards under the Irishman, and that led to the damaging and now infamous Covid campaign, and in turn tarnished Neil’s reputation and relationship with the supporters.

Neil was once upon a time a young aspiring and talented manager, but has now found his level at Dunfermline Athletic, and should be nowhere near the thoughts of those in charge at Celtic.

I mean, the Pars are currently in fourth place in the Scottish second tier, in what universe would Celtic be interested in a Scottish lower tier manager unless that man had a connection with the club’s powerbrokers? One that would be high up in their little black book of contacts.

Alan Hutton, Scott Brown and Neil Lennon looks on prior to the Scottish Cup Final match between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden Park on May 25, 2024.(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Yes, hiring Neil would be nothing more than yet another ‘job for the boys’ situation, someone from the inner circle who can be trusted to sing from the same hymn sheet at the Celtic Board who regard themselves as world class in everything they do.

Re-appointing Neil Lennon to replace Martin O’Neill cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstances.

Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic and Neil Lennon, Head Coach of Dunfermline interact after the Scottish Cup Final match between Celtic and Dunfermline at Hampden Park on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

They say the Americans were delusional for electing Trump for a second term. Celtic hiring Neil Lennon for a third time would for most Celtic supporters supersede that by quite a considerable margin.

It’s not something we should worry about too much because it has all come from a bookmakers’ press release which Celtic Shorts received yesterday along with many other fan media outlets and the mainstream media. It wasn’t featured on here as it was immediately dismissed by our editor as unworthy content for an article.

Fraser Forster and Neil Lennon after Celtic’s 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

However the red tops had no problem running with it and so this debate has started so I’m having my tuppence worth!

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