NEIL Lennon’s pugnacity was one of the many qualities which helped to make the Irishman such a redoubtable player for Leicester City, Celtic and Northern Ireland.

Yet, now that Lennon has moved into the dugout, he will have to work hard to keep his volatile nature under control if he is to fulfil his considerable potential as a manager and enjoy the same level of success.

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When the 45-year-old was sent to the stands by the referee in his first competitive game in charge of Hibs last week it raised a wry smile among seasoned observers of Scottish football. It was almost as if he had never been away.

He was unable to contain his fury after Jason Cummings had a goal disallowed for offside in a Europa League qualifier against Brondby at Easter Road on Thursday evening. He made his feelings known in no uncertain terms to referee Juan Martinez Munueara who had no hesitation ordering him off. He subsequently received a one match touchline ban from UEFA. Nothing like making an impact.

It was far from the first time the Lurgan man had fallen foul of the authorities since becoming a coach. Indeed, it was an indignity he suffered in his first and last games in his ill-fated stint in charge of troubled Bolton. His run-ins with officialdom during his spell at Celtic were many and varied.

It would be unfair to bracket Lennon the manager, though, as some sort of unhinged bampot. There is more, far more, about him than that. An intelligent individual, he developed into a shrewd tactician and inspiring motivator during his four years at the helm at Celtic Park. In Europe especially he impressed.

After some chastening experiences in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and Europa League in his first two seasons, he enjoyed some fine achievements. His team selections, game plans and substitutions were invariably correct and occasionally inspired. A lucrative place in the Champions League group stages was secured on two occasions and his side progressed to last 16 once.

The fact that he managed to enjoy consistent success on the continent was remarkable given that he lost the spine of his time – defender Kelvin Wilson, midfielder Victor Wanyama and striker Gary Hooper all departed after they famously defeated Barcelona to reach the knockout rounds of Europe’s premier club competition.

The influence of Dermot Desmond, the major Celtic shareholder, shouldn’t be underestimated in Lennon’s startling transformation. The billionaire Irishman financier was, in tandem with chief executive Peter Lawwell, an understanding employer who appreciated that issues would inevitably arise as a result of his inexperience.

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But Desmond wasn’t averse to giving his manager a dressing down when he felt it was required either and it foten was. There were a fair few incidences when Lennon was left nursing a sore ear after being on the receiving end of stern rebukes during their frequent phone calls.

The worst came after Lennon idiotically stormed onto the pitch at Hampden to castigate referee Euan Norris for his display following Celtic’s defeat to Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final in 2012. “Dermot was very disappointed with my response,” he later admitted. Suitably reprimanded, a personal apology to the official duly followed.

The time Lennon spent at the Macron Stadium wasn’t especially auspicious. But he had no chance of distinguishing himself at Bolton as they had debts of £172.9 million and were given a winding-up order by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. His former Leicester team mate Emile Heskey, who he signed to play for him, described it as “an impossible job”.

However, if he is to resurrect his managerial career in Edinburgh then the fiery red head will need to temper his more explosive tendencies. What is more, somebody in a senior position at Hibs will have to keep a firm hand on his shoulder to ensure .

The pressure and scrutiny on him in the capital will be nowhere near as great as they were in Glasgow or Bolton for that matter. He has been at far bigger clubs with much larger fan bases and coped admirably with the spotlight. Heck, a larger than life character with a healthy conceit for himself, he positively thrives on it.

Still, Hibs supporters, after two seasons in the second tier, will demand that promotion to the Ladbrokes Premiership is secured and a robust defence of their William Hill Scottish Cup is made. He will do well to replicate the football played under his predecessor Alan Stubbs too.

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If Neil Lennon is to realise the goals he has been set at Hibs, and he has been told that taking them back into the top flight is a requirement, then he will have to do so from the technical area, not a seat in the directors’ box.