NEIL Lennon will be in the Celtic dugout for Wednesday's trip to face Hearts and the rest of the season following Brendan Rodgers' sudden departure to Leicester.
Lennon has been installed as manager with John Kennedy his assistant and Damien Duff promoted to first-team coach after a short stint in charge of the reserves.
The former Celtic captain's extraordinary return capped off a whirlwind 12 hours after it emerged Celtic had "very reluctantly" given Rodgers permission to speak to Leicester.
READ MORE: New boss Brendan Rodgers' post-match speech had Leicester buzzing
Lennon won three league titles and two Scottish Cups in just over four years as Celtic manager after taking over from Tony Mowbray, initially on a temporary basis, in March 2010.
This is what Celtic fans have been saying at Parkhead as Lennon arrived there earlier today:
Margaret Rose Watt, 58, retired
Absolutely delighted that Lennon has become as club manager. It has become a tactical move. He gives his whole self to Celtic so now we can give back to him.
Brendan Rodgers could be remorseful but I think it was a better decision for him.
I think Lennon has grew up a lot where he has been at different clubs where he has been at Hibs and down south and it has been a learning process for him, and I think Neill will do very well.
Peter Murray, 45, scaffolder
I think it is a great move for Celtic, if Rodgers was going to leave, he was going to leave. But I think Lennon is the right man for the job.
I’m not sure if Rodgers will feel remorseful, he said he loves Celtic but I am just glad Lennon’s got the job.
I believe Lennon can still drive them to success. If anybody can do it, Neil Lennon can do it, I think we will win the league this year and the cup and hopefully 10 in a row. Lennon started it so let him finish it.
John Gallagher, 37, taxi driver
Definitely love it. I am happy he has become manager, he will take us to the end of the season and it will be Lennon who does it. Rodgers will regret it, everyone who leaves Celtic regrets it and I think it has let the fans down by leaving the club.
Lennon has already won 3 league titles here, he can definitely drive them to more success than before, Celtic have bet the biggest teams in Europe so I think he can drive us forward and even further.
John Collins, 54, private hire taxi driver
I think they had to get somebody in as quickly as possible and I am quite happy Lennon has filled in that gap. I think he was a good player for the club, but I think he was a great manager for them and we welcome him back. Despite it having to be done quickly, he is a brave man for coming back to the sectarianism that goes on at other clubs towards him and the abuse he is going to have to take which I don’t think is fair on him.
I don’t know why he left a club like Celtic for a club like Leicester, I am quite disappointed the way it was done. I have read his autobiography and he said ‘Celtic is in my blood’. He grew up as a fan so I don’t know why he has done this. He should have stayed till the end of the season but I think Celtic had to get somebody in as quickly as possible.
I think he is going to get more funding for the boards regarding money to spend and that is probably one of the reasons that Brendan left – the issue for money. Rodgers wasn’t getting as much money. Rodgers felt disheartened after a few deals went pear shaped. I think Neil will have demands that he is expecting he probably didn’t get previously before as manager and the board will probably say ‘we will back you’ but will probably face a U turn at the end of the season.
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