John Hartson has described Neil Lennon as "brave" for taking on the Celtic job so early in his management career.
But he has backed his former Hoops team-mate to grab the opportunity with both hands and prove he has what it takes to be a successful Old Firm boss. Hartson spent several years playing alongside Lennon at Celtic.
And he fully backed the club's decision to hand the former skipper the role on a permanent basis after a successful interim spell in the wake of Tony Mowbray's departure. He said: "It's up to him (Lennon) to take it on and do as well as he can. He has to do better than Tony Mowbray did and I genuinely think he will."
He added: "I think Lenny will do very well, especially if he is given funds to bring some fresh faces in because it always bolsters the squad and gives everybody a lift.
"Neil is very brave taking it on, being one so young and with little experience.
"But we all know his connection with Celtic and his love for the club and I'm genuinely thrilled that he's got an opportunity to prove to everybody what a talented young manager he can be."
Hartson believes any success next season will depend on Lennon being given the green-light to strengthen his squad over the summer.
He said: "Celtic need some players, especially defensively.
"In midfield, they are reasonably strong and up-front they have lots of bodies but nobody who has really scored 20 or 30 goals which I think every Old Firm team needs.
"He may look to strengthen in the front areas as well but it's not easy finding them because they cost a lot of money, as someone like Robbie Keane has shown."
Source: PA
