 Former manager and Lisbon Lion, Billy McNeill is willing to be the mentor for neil Lennon if the latter gets the nod from the Celtic board to become the permanent manager. The board are said to be in a position to announce who will be the formal replacement for Tony Mowbray within the next week. Lennon, who has no previous managerial experience, revealed at a meeting with supporters on Thursday night he would welcome the help of an "older head" to bounce ideas off at Parkhead. 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 when he said: "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. 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 went on: "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." |