Strachan: life without Lennon will be like losing Keane edge

CELTIC MANAGER Gordon Strachan has compared the impact of skipper Neil Lennon’s impending exit to that of Roy Keane leaving Manchester United.

The 35-year-old Armagh man announced this week that he will leave Parkhead at the end of the season, after almost seven successful years playing for his boyhood heroes.

Former Coventry and Southampton boss Strachan believes Lennon’s departure will have as much of an effect on the Glasgow giants as Keane’s decision to quit Old Trafford in November 2005 after 12-and-a-half years at United.

Strachan, who captured his second Bank of Scotland SPL title in a row last week with a 2-1 win at Kilmarnock, believes Lennon’s decision to quit means he will need to alter the Hoops’ style of play next season.

He said: “Neil leaving is like Roy Keane moving on from Manchester United. You don’t just try to replace that one player, you have to alter your team a little bit. There’s nobody out there who can replace him as a person and a player.

“So what you have to do is make sure the team shape is right for the players that we have there. Neil was mentally strong and he made himself physically strong.

“His skill and passing was better than anything I’ve seen for a long time. His first touch is fantastic and I don’t think has ever really been appreciated.

“There is no doubt about it, he has helped the players, and me and the coaching staff especially, to win two titles and I will always be thankful for that. And on top of that, I think I have a good friend now as well.

“I could spend two hours talking about Neil Lennon but all I’ll say is that I’m thankful he has stayed for the last two years.”

Lennon plans to open transfer talks with “a few” clubs before making his farewell appearance in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final.

Sunderland and Leicester have been mooted as possible destinations for the veteran midfielder who will be available on a free transfer.

“I might have a year or two left in me playing, and then I’ll hopefully look to the management side of things after that.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. I’ll probably start speaking to a few clubs in the next few weeks and then hold things off until after the cup final.”

“I’ve thought long and hard about it the last couple of seasons,” said Lennon, “but I’ve won back-to-back championships as captain – that’s five titles – and I don’t really think there’s a lot more challenges out there for me, in terms of what Celtic can bring for me.

“I’ve had a great ride, a great seven seasons, and I want to go out on a real high and I think that’s what I’m going to do.”

Parkhead youngster Darren O’Dea insists Lennon helped him make his breakthrough into the Parkhead first team this season.

He said: “Neil will be a massive loss as a character and a personality. He is an experienced figure who has done it all and he has advised me in different ways. He’s been a massive servant at the club but we will just have to move on.”