Neil Lennon Should Get Out Of Football!

Last updated : 12 May 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

He was back in the headlines last night ... not that he's ever LEFT the headlines!

A 26-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday in connection with an attempted attack on the Celtic manager at Tynecastle.

Scottish football authorities have begun an investigation into events that occured during Celtic's 3-0 win against Hearts on Wednesday night in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

After Gary Hooper scored his second goal in the 49th minute, a supporter came out of the main stand and made straight for Lennon, sparking a fracas which also involved first-team coach Alan Thompson, police and stewards.

The intruder was marched up the tunnel by police and arrested, but Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan and his Scottish Premier League counterpart Neil Doncaster will now meet on Thursday to discuss how the incident was allowed to occur.

Regan: "Clearly this kind of behaviour from supporters is wholly unacceptable.

"The safety of players, club officials and match officials is paramount on or around the field of play, and this clear breach of security is a matter I will be discussing with SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster."

Doncaster added: "The SPL deplores the actions of the individual involved. This type of behaviour has no place in Scottish football.

"The SPL will undertake a full investigation and will be reviewing reports from the SPL match delegate, match officials, the police and the clubs."

It is the latest incident to involve Lennon in a season in which he has had bullets sent to him in the post and a parcel bomb intercepted, as well as having to live with round-the-clock security.

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies also believes Lennon might get fed up with the game if the problems continue.

He said: "For what he has had to contend with, I wouldn't blame him for walking away."

As peace was being restored in the technical area, trouble flared in the Celtic section of the stadium with fans appearing to fight with police and stewards.

A police spokesman said: "A number of incidents took place during this match, including some violent disorder.

"Lothian and Borders Police will fully investigate all of the incidents that occurred at the match and will work closely with both football clubs and the SPL."

Meanwhile, two men were being held by police in connection with an investigation into parcel bombs sent to Lennon and to two high-profile supporters of the club.

Two bombs were sent to Lennon and one each to lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman.

The men, aged 41 and 43, were detained under the Explosives Substances Act 1883 after officers raided a number of properties in Kilwinning, Ayrshire.

The police operation was launched at around 0600 BST on Thursday.

Last month Strathclyde Police said the two packages sent to Lennon, and the two others, were "designed to cause real harm to the person who opened them".

A fifth suspect package, addressed to the offices of Cairde Na H'Eireann (Friends of Ireland) in Glasgow, was also intercepted by officers last month.

SHEARER AND 1998 ...

England captain Alan Shearer is waiting to see if he will be punished for kicking Leicester City's Neil Lennon in the face.

The Newcastle United striker apologised for the incident in a league game at Filbert Street on April 29, saying he never meant to harm Lennon, who suffered a cut and bruising to his face.

Referee Martin Bodenham took no action, prompting complaints from Leicester manager Martin O'Neill.

Shearer: "I was brought down by Neil Lennon and we both fell clumsily.

"As I tried to get to my feet I had to really tug my left foot free and the momentum of doing this looked on television liked a kick.

"It certainly wasn't and the fact that Neil is virtually unmarked confirms this. If I did accidentally catch him, I certainly did not mean to. I would never try and deliberately hurt a fellow professional."

Martin O'Neill: "You don't do that whether you are Alan Shearer or the Pope.

"I said my piece after the game. The video evidence will prove it for itself."