Neil Lennon makes Celtic Park return tonight live on BT Sport

By Euan Davidson

September 30, 2021

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon will be on punditry duty for BT Sport tonight, when the Bhoys face Bayer Leverkusen.

Controversial ex-boss Lennon left the club in February of this year after a poor run of form. Since his departure, he’s been a mainstay in the press, enduring spats with Leigh Griffiths, the SFA and Rangers.

Lennon was bizarrely barred entry from Ibrox recently, alongside former teammate and sometimes critic Chris Sutton. Rangers said they couldn’t let either in to their stadium on safety grounds, despite being booked to cover Europa League matches for BT Sport.

The former captain should have no problems getting into Paradise, although there’ll certainly be some supporters unhappy about the idea of Lennon critiquing the new boss.

Presenter Connie McLaughlin confirmed the news on Twitter this morning:

It’s quite the evening for Mr Lennon, then. Will he be critical of the new management if Celtic struggle tonight?

Or, will he be giving his backing to the coaching team he left behind? Key figures like Gavin Strachan, John Kennedy and ex-youth team coach Stephen McManus are all still in the dugout under Postecoglou.

There’s also plenty of players from the Lennon era who’ll be looking to make their mark against the Bundesliga giants tonight.

Neil Lennon on BT Sport could make for interesting viewing

It isn’t that often you see punditry on a club from a manager who left just months prior.

BT Sport will be well aware of the opportunity they have here. Lennon has never been one to hold his tongue before. However, provided Celtic pull off a shock result, what chances of a glowing review from Neil Lennon?

And how will fans watching at home react to the ex-boss on their screens, giving his analysis from Celtic Park?

Given the change in tactics and the mood of optimism that still exists under Postecoglou, it’ll be genuinely interesting to see what Lennon says about tonight’s performance.

Any hints of bitterness are unlikely to be received particularly well. Especially given some of last season’s dismal European failures under the former Bhoys captain.

With Paul Lambert alongside him, himself a former Bhoys captain, it should be a really entertaining spectacle at least. Neither are going to hold back, something of a trademark for players from Martin O’Neill’s era.

Read more: The Lazio Precedent: Patchy league form hasn’t slowed Celtic in Europe before