ANGE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE IS GETTING INTO CLAIM BY LENNY

NEIL LENNON believes Ange Postecoglou doesn’t know what he is getting into as his successor at Celtic.

The former Australia international manager touched down in Glasgow only TWENTY-FOUR days after agreeing to take over at Parkhead.

It was a race against time for the Hoops after the lengthy pursuit of ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe eventually hit a break wall and the club were forced to activate Plan B.

Fifty-five-year-old Postecoglou, however, readily accepted the challenge to step in at a club that had seen Lennon depart in February in the midst of a chaotic and catastrophic campaign with assistant John Kennedy being given the reins for the last 10 games of the side’s first trophyless term in 11 years.

CHEERLEADER…Ange Postecoglou calls for more effort.

The Athens-born gaffer will make his Celtic Park debut this evening when the club take on Scott Sinclair’s Preston in a friendly before his competitive bow on Tuesday evening in the Champions League second round first leg qualifier against FC Midtjylland in the east end of Glasgow in front of 9,000 fans.

Asked by a talkSPORT interviewer if Postecoglou knw what he was getting into, Lennon answered: “Probably not.

“There’s going to be a lot of analysis, scrutiny and invasion of his life and work.

“He’s very experienced having worked on the other side of the world and he’ll bring a freshness to the club which is probably what is needed after a decade of success and a disappointing season last year.

“He’s got a blank canvas, really, so he can come in and stamp his own ideas on the game.”

DOWN AND OUT…Neil Lennon can’t disguise his disappointment as Celtic exit the Champions League a year ago.

Former interim gaffer Kennedy and assistants Gavin Strachan and Stephen McManus are poised to remain in backroom posts, but Lennon thinks Postecoglou may still want to bring in his own coaches.

The Irishman: “Some of the staff who were there last year will help him along.

“It will be interesting to see if he does eventually bring someone in with him because for a job of that size you do need somebody to lean on now and again.

“Obviously, recruitment is going to be important, along with selling players, as well.”

* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Preston this evening – only in your champion CQN.