minstral 5,375 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 IT wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had a few ding-dong battles with Neil Lennon.When we were on the park during Old Firm matches we basically wanted to beat the s*** out of each other.However, off the pitch it was a totally different story.We were not best pals by any stretch of the imagination but I bumped into him socially on quite a few occasions and we always got on well.In many respects we were similar as we came from the same backgrounds and wanted the same things.We grew up idolising different sides of the Old Firm and were able to fulfil our boyhood dreams by playing for them and captaining them.On the park we would have done anything to make sure we helped our team win.Even when he was on the coaching staff at Celtic I remember clashing with him on the touchline during the 2009 League Cup Final.Did we overstep the mark? Sure we did – plenty of times.It was all heat-of-the-moment stuff when the adrenalin was pumping and we were fired up.However, it had nothing to do with being disrespectful.No, this was just two passionate guys who had a pathological fear of losing to our biggest rivals.Yet once the final whistle blew we drew a line under it.There was always a handshake at the end of the game and what happened on the park remained there.Neil was always someone I respected and while I was sad to see him leave Celtic this week, I wasn’t shocked.Funnily enough, one of the first things I thought about when I heard the news was the time he invited himself round to my house ... when I wasn’t there.A party and a special video screening had been arranged for me after I’d been awarded an MBE in the honours list.While I was away on international duty with Scotland in Ukraine, part of the video was filmed in the front room of my house.On the night of the bash everybody is watching the television screen and you can see someone reclining on my sofa with his face hidden.He was reading a copy of my recent autobiography.A voice-over then said: “Here is the inspirational captain of one of Europe’s biggest football clubs, a man idolised by thousands of supporters.”Slowly the book was lowered to reveal Neil Lennon. You can imagine the howls of laughter in the room at the time.I saw the funny side of it as well although, on a serious note, I also thought it spoke volumes that Neil was willing to record such a nice tribute on my behalf.It showed there we had no hatred towards each other despite our repeated battles on the park. As I have explained to people plenty of times in the past, Neil couldn’t have been any more of a gentleman off the park.There is a perception of Neil always being angry and that’s true of me too.Most people are only really aware of our exploits on a football pitch.When I played for Rangers I permanently had my face screwed up and was forever moaning. But that was only because I wanted to win the game at all costs.Neil was exactly the same in that respect for Celtic.That’s why I feel you should always fully reserve judgment on someone until you actually meet them.The decision to walk away from the manager’s job at Celtic is not one he would have taken lightly. However, Neil has been at Parkhead in a playing, coaching and managerial capacity for the past 14 years.I know from my own experience that the constant pressure you are under does eventually take its toll.And it has been far worse for Neil.The sustained abuse he has had to put up with has been horrendous.That is the one ugly aspect of the Old Firm that we could all do without.Putting up with threats and receiving bullets through the post must have been far harder to deal with than anything he encountered as a player or a manager.I can empathise with him to a degree as I’ve suffered my fair share of stick over the years, particularly when I was at Rangers.What Neil went through was far worse, although I thought he handled most of it with dignity.I know what it is like when you go for a quiet pint with your mates or pop out to do the shopping and you get subjected to hateful and hurtful abuse.There were times when it was a massive ordeal just to leave the house.I don’t care what anybody says, it does come to a point when you are eventually going to crack.You try your utmost not to react but you can only take so much.Hopefully, Neil can leave all that behind when he takes up his next position – wherever that will be.And given the job he has done with Celtic – three titles, two Scottish Cups and success in Europe – I don’t think he will be short of offers.Over the past few weeks I’d heard a few whispers on the grapevine that he was unsettled so it didn’t come as surprise when he resigned.On the one hand, managing Celtic is an easy job just now because you will almost certainly win the championship when Rangers are not there.On the other, though, Neil was on a hiding to nothing because he was only ever going to get criticised as everything he ever won was taken for granted.I don’t care what anybody says about the Scottish League, to go through an entire campaign and lose just one game is impressive.That achievement and taking Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League last season is why he will be on the radar of a number of English clubs.He is more than ready for his next challenge, whether that is in the Premier League or the Championship.It will do him and his family the world of good to escape the goldfish-bowl mentality of Glasgow.Without the everyday pressures of life at the Old Firm, I think he will thrive south of the border.I know I have.As told to Colin Duncan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVIE8CH 296 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 is that barry putting his hat in the ring for the bheast fc job Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 1,150 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Hope he burned the couch that manky cunt was sitting on when they filmed that message from his front room. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Posted that ages ago that Barry and The Mutant were bum chums.They should just hump and get it over with.The fact he can spend time with that cunt says a lot about him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlegKuznetsov 10,816 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 If I'd have been in Barry's position I wouldn't have made myself available for such an interview and I'd be raging at whoever invited the cunt to my house in my absence. Furthermore, I'd burn the seat he sat in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norgerpd 280 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 A lot of it makes sense.Lets face it,if the troll was one of ours with the same strength of political leanings towards the loyalist agenda,plenty of our support would idolise him regardless of his mis-demeanours.As for applauding his achievements in winning severely tainted league titles...........behave,Barry! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robespierre 589 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Fucking cringe Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1873bear 192 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I'm glad to see the back of that cunt, hopefully the poor wee victim moves out of our city..... Caused many a criminal record for innocent people. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayboleLoyal_atb 3,688 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Settle down Barry fuck sake Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Robot 21,150 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Fuck TLB and good riddence to bad rubbish. Ally and his love of ££££'s Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cumnockbear 2,446 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Cringe Fergie fs Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norgerpd 280 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Fuck TLB and good riddence to bad rubbish. Ally and his love of ££££'sAlly??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creampuff 22,628 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Don't really mind this, to be honest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlegKuznetsov 10,816 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I'd be rather disappointed that my friends had him cornered and didn't give him a right bleaching. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingWilBEARy 4,319 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Fuck TLB and good riddence to bad rubbish.Ally and his love of ££££'sI agree. What are you playing at Ally? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkinator 611 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Well I have met lemon and I can confirm he's an arrogant tosser, shut up barry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimfanciesthedude 24,540 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Thats a new age rangers legend for you, pals with cunt like lennon and coFucking embarrassing Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggleskelly 3,772 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 My hatred for that mhanky tombstone teeth bastard will never lessen no matter who tries to make out that he's 'a regular guy'. BF , you've just went way down in my estimation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUEDIGNITY 33,647 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Been taking lessons off McCoist obviously, it's called mcsciafing your way to popularity ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aird 3,774 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I'm more surprised that Ferguson has an mbe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKaiJohansen 118 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Vomit inducing Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Manticore* 1,893 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 If I'd have been in Barry's position I wouldn't have made myself available for such an interview and I'd be raging at whoever invited the cunt to my house in my absence. Furthermore, I'd burn the seat he sat in.While he was in it of course Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyalfollower 1,543 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Can'tanyone see its just respect of a fellow pro who he played against for many years. Do I like Lennon? No but I'm not going to give baz stick for his own opinion Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
minstral 5,375 Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share Posted May 24, 2014 Can'tanyone see its just respect of a fellow pro who he played against for many years. Do I like Lennon? No but I'm not going to give baz stick for his own opinionWhy praise him, when deep down he hates our club. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlegKuznetsov 10,816 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 While he was in it of course You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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