NEIL LENNON has warned Eddie Howe that he will face a massive “culture shock” – if he takes over as Celtic manager.
The 43-year-old former Bournemouth boss is poised to be named as the Irishman’s successor early next week, as CQN reported.
John Kennedy has been in interim charge since Lennon’s exit in February after a catastrophic campaign that promised so much in the summer with the Hoops bidding for a historic tenth successive title.
The club faces a summer of upheaval and Howe will be pitched into the middle of the turmoil if he agrees to take the role.
But Lennon, who had two stints in the Parkhead dug-out and won five championships as a manger and five as a player, has told his likely successor to expect a whole new ball-game from what he has been used to in the past with the south coast outfit.
The Irishman said: “It’s quite a culture shock and, if we’re hypothetically talking about Eddie, he’s coming from a real family club like Bournemouth.
“He’s lived there and worked there all his career.
“I think it would be a coup for Celtic to get someone like Eddie, he’s a top coach.
“His style of play suits a club like Celtic, he’d be ingratiated with the Celtic fans very quickly if he can adopt that style that he had at Bournemouth.
“In the Championship and then in the first formative years in the Premier League, they were great to watch.
“But off the field, away from the training ground, life’s going to be very, very different to what he was used to at Bournemouth.”
Lennon, speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, added: “There’s going to be a lot of speculation, a lot of media interest and, obviously, a lot of interest from supporters.
“Glasgow’s not a huge city, but you’ve got two humongous clubs there and the rivalry is thousands of years old – and it’ll go on for the next thousand years, as well.
“So it’s exciting, but it’ll take a bit of adapting for him, there’s no question about that.”
Howe has been out of work since early August last year when he departed Bournemouth after eight years at the club. He took them from the third tier to the top flight, but things turned dour when the club were relegated last season.
He has already knocked back Sheffield United after they sacked Chris Wilder earlier this year.
However, it is anticipated he will take over the Hoops in time for a crucial new season in which they must get back on track.
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