Lennon could count on McNeill

29 May 2010 11:19

Billy McNeill has revealed he is ready to be Neil Lennon's Celtic mentor.

Interim boss Lennon is expected to discover in little over a week whether he is being appointed on a permanent basis.

Two-time boss and European Cup-winning captain McNeill, who currently works as an official ambassador for the club, has thrown his hat into the ring, telling the Scottish Sun: "I'll always be prepared to do whatever I can for Celtic. If Neil ever felt I could be of assistance to him then he need only give me a call."

He added: "I know what it takes to be an Old Firm manager and the pitfalls that go with the job. I think it could be a good thing for Neil to have someone around to learn from. But I'd never get in his way."

If Lennon does get the job, there are reports that he and interim assistant Johan Mjallby will be joined in the coaching set-up by former team-mate Alan Thompson.

McNeill added: "Some will immediately say they are too inexperienced and I can understand that concern. But how else are they meant to gain what they supposedly lack?

"It was the same for me when I became manager at Clyde and Aberdeen. But I was positive in what I wanted to do and wasn't afraid to stick to my beliefs.

"I would be surprised if Neil didn't get the job."

Source: PA