Neil Lennon on the brink

[ian1964 10,720]

CELTIC boss Neil Lennon has been pushed to the brink by the sickening hate campaign against him, Hoops coach Alan Thompson warned last night.

 

Lennon has been repeatedly targeted by thugs who have sent chilling death threats, brutally attacked him and even posted bullets to him.

 

The latest sinister package - addressed to him at Celtic Park - was discovered by terrified mail workers at a sorting office in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, yesterday.

 

It comes 48 hours after he clashed with Rangers' assistant boss Ally McCoist and controversial Ibrox star El Hadji Diouf during this week's Old Firm game.

 

And Thompson - Lennon's closest ally at the club - revealed how the menacing attacks have taken their toll on the 39-year-old.

 

The former Celtic midfielder said: "I was having a beer with him on the Friday night before the Old Firm game and we got rushed out of where we were.

 

"He was taken home and given 24-hour surveillance for him and his family for two nights - the night before the game and the night after the game.

 

"There has been live ammunition sent to him and then this - this is just unbelievable. People think he should just accept it. But it's a hard way to live your life."

 

Thompson, who took over Lennon's duties at the regular pre-match press conference, added: "It's not new to him, he's had them before and no doubt he'll have them again. But they're going to take their toll."

 

The assistant manager, also revealed how the hate campaign had affected Lennon's family. Thompson said: "His family are first and foremost, both in Scotland - his partner Irene and his little boy Gallagher - as well as his mum, dad and sisters back home. I spend a lot of time with him at work and away from work and I know how difficult it is for his family.

 

"He has been up here 11 years and he has had it from then until the present and will have it until he leaves. I think it is important that he gets the protection and backing that we give him."

 

Asked if Lennon was set to quit Parkhead, Thompson replied: "Only Neil and his family can make that decision. But I'd be surprised if he goes anywhere in the next nine or ten weeks. I think it will be something he'll sit down and look at in the summer."

 

Lennon, a former Celtic captain and Northern Ireland international, has previously been targeted by a string of yobs. He was forced to withdraw from Northern Ireland's game against Cyprus in 2002 after a reported death threat from a paramilitary group.

 

In 2008 he was knocked unconscious after being attacked by two men in Glasgow who were later jailed for the brutal assault.

 

And two months ago he slammed the sick maniacs who sent bullets to him and Celtic winger Niall McGinn, 23, in the post after the New Year Old Firm game.

 

The packages were posted in Northern Ireland and intercepted in a sorting office. The latest chilling find saw cops race to the Saltcoats sorting office before setting up an emergency cordon around the building and removing the package which later turned out to be a hoax.

 

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "Clearly this most recent sickening event in a long line of threats to Neil and his family is extremely worrying.

 

"No one in any walk of life should have to live their life in this way and those responsible should be condemned."

 

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we are currently investigating a suspicious package discovered at a Royal Mail sorting office in Chapelwell Street, Saltcoats. Enquiries are ongoing."

 

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