Why do people hate neil lennon

On these occasions there is an unseemly dash to occupy the moral high ground and speak portentously of Scotland's dirty little secret. What had been a keenly contested but otherwise unremarkable city derby for around 25 years developed its sectarian edge when Celtic, the pride of the Irish diaspora, dominated Scottish football in the decade before the Great War.

Who could mount a Scottish challenge to navvies, Fenians and tattie-howkers? At this time Rangers, whose home lay in Govan on the other side of the city, began to attract support from shipyard workers imported from the Harland and Wolff yards in Belfast.

These were loyal to Ulster, the crown and the Protestant faith. Rangers became their club and began to shoulder their aspirations. Battle was joined. The two clubs, ever since, have been entwined in a grim dance to the music of their time. Lennon was bemused at the reaction of Scotland's political leaders in the aftermath of the March cup-tie. Martin O'Neill, my old boss at Celtic and also from Northern Ireland, once pulled me across to salute the Celtic fans at Ibrox after I had received even more than the usual abuse from the Rangers support.

The press criticised him for that. Only one sportswriter supported him. This is and reporters have a duty to report what has happened to me in my 10 years here truthfully, but until the bomb threats they and the politicians swept it under the carpet. I've had hundreds of letters too from Rangers fans, from Hearts fans, from Aberdeen fans, all saying that they have been outraged by some of the abuse directed at me and that it doesn't truly reflect their views.

That's also been very humbling. Lennon grew up in Lurgan, the sober and tidy little town that welcomes us to Northern Ireland when we leave the ferry, and where his parents still live. I played sports for many of the protestant boys' clubs and youth clubs. Sectarianism simply was not part of my upbringing. A friend, knowing that I am to interview him, speaks of her appreciation that he wrote, in his memoir, of his continuing struggle with clinical depression.

His candidness was applauded by mental-health charities and he still does what he can to support their campaigns. Despite his troubles in Glasgow he loves the city, and people are often surprised to see him socialising freely in the streets around his home with his family. His friends say he is a gregarious and engaging character who will never be deterred from talking about football to anyone who approaches him. The football writer Graham Spiers has been observing Lennon the player and Lennon the manager for 10 years.

Yes, he does tick every box in the Celtic, Catholic Irish narrative and that elicits a bigoted response from some people. But this only explains part of it. He is always on the front foot and he never retreats when others have found it more prudent to do so.

I've seen him give the middle finger to supporters who were giving him abuse at a couple of grounds. I'm sure these are occasions he regrets. At these times, he seems to be saying: 'Get it right up the lot of you. But little of this begins to truly explain why, following 10 tranquil years in England, many people, outwith Scotland's Catholic community, simply can't abide the sight of this turbulent Irishman.

The answer is both troubling and reassuring, for Lennon's decade-long Gethsemane may yet prove to be cathartic for a proud and disputatious nation.

The law and politics were, not so long ago, realms where the Catholic Irish were not permitted to hold a stake. The white and aspirational working-class Protestant community could rely on exclusive entry to the trades and the professions; the Kirk and the Conservative party gave them sustenance. Membership of golf clubs and tennis clubs and bowling clubs was theirs and theirs only.

That was then. No longer is there an artisan class in Scotland, once the sole preserve of working-class Protestants. I dislike Rangers just as much as Celtic, i hate bigots on both sides. Religion does not matter a jot to me. He has an enormous chip on his shoulder and genuinely believes he is demonised because of religion.

Well let me tell you something Neil, their are many people out their who dont like you because you come across as an odious, whinging, bleeting, greeting, stirring basket. Neil Lennon is a bad winner and an even worse looser, that is why the majority of Scottish football dont want you. Sidsnot 6 posts. Just joe 6 posts. Sectarianism is for flat earth morons who haven't evolved thumbs yet. Doesn't mean intelligent people can't think of many reasons to hate the Old Firm institution and its more obnoxious characters.

Yes - he is irritating and disrespectful towards opposition teams but it's all part of the game. All the "apparent" big managers say things like Lennon.. Neil Lennon copies things other managers have done in the past and is ripped to bits for it.

There's a lot of people who need to take a reality check. He's just a whinging ginger - not much else really. Doesn't mean intelligent people can't think of many reasons to hate the Old Firm institution and dislike its more obnoxious characters.

Seriously, he is hated because he is NEIL LENNON, a despicable human being that has played the victim card at every god given opportunity throughout his career; whether playing or managing. This has culminated into beleiving himself to be the biggest victim of all at the biggest and most victimised club in the whole world well that's the way they see it. So, Lennon, you are hated because of who you are and what you are I agree with you.

There are many things about Neil Lennon I dislike and none of them are connected to his religion or the country he is from. I trust this clarifies things for you Mr Walker.

They were on the radio this morning giving it sectarian this and sectarian that about the Lennon incident. No, it's about the way he acts at games, the comments he makes between games, his whole demeanor is that of a snarling scumbag.

He deliberately winds up opposition fans, and he really needs to take a long hard look at his OWN behaviour and how that contributed to last night and to the other stuff he has had aimed at him. Someone needs to take him aside and school him in the way to act when you are the Manager of a high profile club like Celtic.

I bet if he was to change his attitude, to not jump up and down and throw tantrums, or accuse opponents of cheating simply because celtic didn't get their own way or not wind up opposing fans, then the hate for him would die down vastly.

It is all to do with the fact that he is a repugnant little rodent. We all had a Neil Lennon in our class at school. You know? I am sure he takes great satisfaction from last night and I? It's a horrendous mess. It's quite right to say that there is far more to lennon and his club than simple sectarian issues that contribute to people hating them. Sadly it's too easy and convenient to focus in on the religious aspect.

Too many ignorant or agenda driven people have a public platform in order to spread their lies and rhetoric. There is a sectarian element to our club though and it certainly makes it far easier for us to be pigeon holed that way. We are being damaged from within as well as from outwith the club.

Celtic themselves are complicit in fostering a far worse sectarian problem at their club. Again sadly, not the smallest iota of scrutiny is ever put on this. This in itself only helps to create more tension and bitterness. No, really, what? You think he's making home-made bombs, flying undercover to Northern Ireland, dressing up in disguises and posting the bombs that he made himself to his own house?

I believe he probably did get sent some by an external source but I believe he is also sending them to himself to make the situation worse. Jock Stein would be turning in his grave have to witness the way this moron conducts himself. Does walter smith act like his old firm counterpart??? No beacuse he knows whats required of him. The warning signs are flashing and have been for some time Mr Lennon.

For a record I'm a catholic, my grandad was a catholic from County Tyrone and my girlfriend is a cathilic from County Armagh.

And I hate the wee rat. Not because of religion or race but because he is an antagonistic little fud who has behaved totally out of order this season with his conspiracies and temper tantrums. I don't mind Neil Lennon at all. Granted he's the kind of character who will tend to polarise opinion depending on whether he plays for or manages either your team or an opposing team, but it all seems totally over the top to me. The jury's still out on him as a manager but I'd have loved him to have been with us when he was still playing.

I think there are a hard core of bigots who hate him for being the Irish RC manager of Celtic and a successful former player in a very successful Celtic team, and then a larger number of people who've just jumped on the bandwagon because they need to have a hate figure and like to be part of the crowd. A bit like an unpopular kid being bullied at school, there will be a couple of nasties doing most of the actual bullying but a lot of other kids joining because of the mob mentality.

I can tell you what a large number of those round about me in Block T2 lower just to the left of the away dugout were saying about him. Not just one or two bad eggs.

Not just a handful? Unless I? Perhaps some on here may wish to allege I am either a Celtic fan in disguise or a traveller on the easily offended bus. I am neither however I left Tynecastle last night feeling sick and ashamed.

We have a sizable minority who bring sectarian and to a lesser degree racist baggage to our games. As for the comments on here that NL is sending letter bombs to himself? Shame on you. Second, the bomb threats etc. The fact that he plays the system, ably abetted by his club and some of the media, has fueled an already volatile situation and made it times worse. As has been well documented, the victim card has been outrageously overplayed and his unacceptable behaviour is disappearing off the radar like snow off a dyke!

Eejits like Walker, saying that the cheers ran round Tynecastle when Lennon was attacked, will totally deflect the FACT that Lennon is not innocent in all of this.

Sure, please, please, hammer these idiots as hard as is possible under the law, but don't lose sight of the incitement that Lennon has perpetrated. As a player, he was a sh-itstirrer, he would always get away with things on the pitch that others were getting done for. He incited crowds because he knew he would get away with it,constantly insulting opposition players in the hope they'd react and get red-carded while putting on his poor wee innocent face to refs, refs of course who would'nt deal with him.

He's arrogant and believes he's untouchable, he goes screaming to the media about how unfair refs are towards his team even though it's the other way about , he's too stupid to realise this of course.

He has been in the papers recently saying that other teams were not competing against Rangers, sorry He's lost the League, he only has his own players to blame, had he won that game he'd be on top and would likely have won the League this weekend, he knows he's feked it up but won't take responsibility.

I always knew he would cause controversy and couldn't believe that the Smeltic board brought him in as manager, he'd virtually no experience afterall.

The guy is and always will be a total and utter fud! The sooner he's out of Scottish football the better. Can you imagine us having a party for finishing 3rd before a ball was kicked against Rangkers all game regardless of score? Well I can, did it happen last night? Anyone that can't see that has their head buried so far in the sand they may well end up in Australia. Nothing to do with his religion.

He persecuted a couple of officials who dared to get a decision right that went against Celtic. That useless [email protected] who Lennon, I'd call it a handbag attack, my five year old granddaughter would have decked the handbag carrier. As I grew older, I gained a brain, one of my mates walks in the Lodge, I married a Protestant, half my kids went to a Protestant school and half to a Catholic school, not for any other reason than convenience.

I just don't see bigotry where I live where the bands walk, It's dead and gone and good riddance. A lot of fans hate Ferguson but yer don't see anyone assaulting him, utter cranks.

Offended by everything, embarrassed by nothing. In his defense, they things were a while ago and he has changed a bit for becoming manager. Accusing the officials off favouring Rangers will get more fans to dislike him, then after his team gets favoured he then accuses teams of not being competative which will anger more fans off different clubs. He needs to step back out the limelight a wee bit as i cant remember the last time i looked at a paper and he wasnt on the back of it.

So, do i hate Neil Lennon? The answer would be no, i dislike him because he is associated with my teams rivals along with Wilson, Forrest, Hooper etc, i certainly do not want to see any harm brought to the guy or any other person associated with Celtic FC or any club. Bundy Registered Boozer. AB That guy from that thing.

Something about a minutely different interpretation of a fictional big bloke in the sky. I don't like Lennon, am I a bigot?