Neil Lennon is a figure of hatred for many people in Scotland, he is even hated by those who know nothing about him or about football. He was hated even before he set foot in Scotland and he will be hated long after he leaves. His treatment since his arrival in Scotland is a constant reminder of just how deeply rooted and insidious anti-Irish Catholic feeling is in many parts of the best small country in the world.

Let’s get one thing clear, Neil Lennon has done very little wrong in Scotland, yet to read reports in the press, he would appear to be the devil incarnate. Neil Lennon’s behaviour has been no worse in the dug out than other contemporaries such as Walter Smith, Jim Jeffries and further afield the likes of Alex Ferguson. For some strange reason or reasons, Neil Lennon’s perceived actions and words are considered much worse than other managers.

So what exactly are these ‘reasons’ for hating Neil Lennon?

In their ideal scenario, Walter Smith would crush the taig pretender causing him pain and humiliation. Rangers would cruise to three-in-a-row and Walter would ride off in the sunlight basked in evening glory, while young Alistair heir apparent would kiss his ring.

Neil Lennon has the measure of Rangers and therein lies the problem. Due to a series of circumstances, the bitter rivals have met with unusual frequency since the solitary Celtic defeat at Celtic Park way back in October. The four subsequent meetings have Celtic winning three and drawing one. Rangers have never beaten Celtic this calendar year. That is the crux of the matter. Under Neil Lennon’s tutelage, Celtic have improved dramatically in a few short months, Rangers have gone backwards at an alarming rate. Their ability to crush the likes of Motherwell and St Johnstone fools nobody. In the games that really  matter, they are on their knees before the ‘rookie’ manager.

There is a growing realization among even the dullest of Rangers supporters that their club is in freefall both on and off the field. It really has not gone to plan, this was Walter’s last year after all and with it, a wonderful opportunity to rub the taig’s nose in the mud.

Rangers are humiliated because a young untried manager is handing out a lesson in tactics and man-management which Smith can’t handle.

The final point is of course about the future. Rangers hate Neil Lennon and more significantly they fear him. They would never admit it publicly but he is their worst nightmare, just as the American white supremacists fear the ‘ni**er with attitude’, Rangers supporters fear the Fenian with fight.

Lennon is everything that Smith is not; bright, eloquent, resourceful and flexible. He has shown more insight and innate intelligence in six months than Smith has in his whole career. Charlie Adam who was deemed not good enough for Rangers by Walter Smith, yet somehow within months of leaving Ibrox gives commanding performances at a much higher level of football. What exactly does that say about Smith’s basic judgment? Equally, Celtic find three gems in the shape of Izaguirre, Kayal and Hooper. Add to that the resurrection of the likes of Brown, Wilson and Mulgrew and something begins to emerge about Neil’s management skills.

In the transfer market, Lennon has outsmarted Smith repeatedly. For the price of Kyle Lafferty you can get our three gems and throw in Kris Commons and still have change!

In the bigger picture Rangers have much to fear, no money, no future and Alistair Murdoch McCoist at the helm. Against him, they have the eternal enemy, a man who has shown that he has mastered his mentor with consummate ease. Fear is the key thing at Ibrox, whether it be fear of the taxman, the bank or mass player desertion in the summer, fear has gripped Rangers supporters and the club. All of these elements pale into insignificance when they contemplate the figure of Neil Lennon.

They cannot stomach this man repeatedly putting them to the sword and their worst nightmare is a period of total domination led by Neil Lennon. This would explain the sheer vitriol which is seen in the press, television and radio phone-ins. Neil Lennon has been assaulted, threatened with death and his character has been repeatedly assassinated in print and on air. Were he to be forced out in the summer due to issues of personal safety, it would say much about the state of present day Scotland.

I am glad that politicians wish to hold a summit regarding Celtic and Rangers as any fair and open debate can only work in Celtic’s favour.

Only idiots would ascribe the incidents on Wednesday evening to the behaviour of Neil Lennon, unfortunately there are many idiots in Scotland who do just that. Celtic as a club are engaged in deadly combat with those who run the game, Neil Lennon is part of the struggle. Future events will vindicate Celtic and Neil, for the time being we need as a man to get behind our manager. He deserves no less. If we lose Neil Lennon, the bigots have won.