Neil Lennon reckons Brendan Rodgers will be forgiven for 10 in a row exit if he can lead Celtic to 56 titles

NEIL LENNON reckons Brendan Rodgers will be forgiven for not staying for ten in a row — if he can lead Celtic to 56 titles.

The returning Parkhead boss admitted this week his 2019 departure for Leicester “hurt” fans.

But ex-boss Lenny said: “Brendan has signed a three-year contract, and if he can win the league in each of those seasons then Celtic will have overtaken Rangers with 56 titles.

“That’s an incentive for the board, the management and all the players.

“It will be just one more thing which we have over them, added to the European Cup win, the Invincible Treble, the Quadruple Treble and two nine-in-a-rows.

“So if Brendan can reach 56 before Rangers then the section of the support who are still wary of him would forget all about the fact he didn’t stay, as they used to sing, for ten in a row.

“He’ll see that as a challenge and he’ll embrace it.

“You want to be pushed because it keeps you and your players on their toes.”

Lenny has backed Rodgers to splash the cash to bring more firepower to Parkhead.

He added: “Celtic have a guaranteed goalscorer in Kyogo Furuhashi.

“And I’m sure that Brendan will add another in that department as well.”

Lennon revealed he met Rodgers following his decision to return to Glasgow.

He said: “I bumped into Brendan last week, and he told me he’d planned to take a year out in Majorca after leaving Leicester.

“But when Celtic come calling, especially given the situation he was in, you don’t say no to them.

“His priority will be winning the league, continuing to dominate the landscape here in Scotland and going further in the Champions League.

“Some say this is a step backwards for him but it really isn’t.

“If you’re working as a manager then there aren’t that many clubs who can give you the opportunity to compete in the Champions League.

“Everyone wants to take on the best teams and the best coaches, so those are the pros of coming back.

“As for the cons, if he doesn’t get off to a great start then the fans may start doubting him.

“But I don’t believe that will really worry Brendan at all.

“He was the outstanding candidate for the Celtic job.

“It helps that he’s familiar with the club and the league, although there will have been changes here and there since he left in 2019.

“Unlike his first time, he’s now taking over a team which has just won a Treble and he’ll be looking to continue in that vein.

“At 50, he still has the appetite for success which you really need at Parkhead.”

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