NEIL LENNON has warned Brendan Rodgers that his remit as Celtic manager will be to lead the club back into the Champions League in his first season in charge.
The former Parkhead boss believes his old club's dominance of Scottish football would continue as he claimed they were "well ahead" of Rangers and the rest.
READ MORE: In Pictures: Brendan Rodgers unveiled as Celtic manager in front of thousands of fans at Parkhead
But it is Europe which will provide Rodgers, who revealed he would seek out Lennon for advice, with his first and probably most important challenge of his Celtic career.
This is where Ronny Deila failed and the best-paid manager in Celtic history will surely be expected to reach the group stages in his debut campaign.
Lennon said: "Obviously Celtic will be hot favourites to win the title and from a footballing point of view the remit of Rodgers is to qualify for the Champions League and get into the group stages.
"That’s what Celtic will be looking for, they haven’t done it for the last two seasons.”
Lennon sees similarities between the position he found himself in when he replaced Tony Mowbray in 2010 to the one Rodgers will inherit.
The former Liverpool boss is going to have a bigger transfer kitty than his fellow countryman did, but he will still have to be clever with the way he spends the club's money.
Lennon said: "I had four years at Celtic where I had to build a team and I did that successfully. Managing in the Champions League on top of that was brilliant.
“The philosophy there, because we couldn’t compete with the Premier League in terms of finances, was to find younger players, develop them and then sell them on, which we did with Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster, who are now all at Southampton, as well as Ki Sung-yueng.
“Celtic haven’t got the money that Premier League clubs have, but Brendan will enjoy the challenge of trying to find younger, unearthed players.”
Lennon endured some shameful treatment on the streets of Glasgow during his time at Celtic.
And one thing he will pass on to Rodgers when they do speak will be to advise him on his living arrangements.
Lennon, speaking to the set pieces website, said: "The first thing he’ll have to deal with is the intrusion on his life. It’s a goldfish bowl.
“I think he may take a step out, live in Edinburgh and travel through to Glasgow. That would be better for him. The intensity of the scrutiny you’re under is something he won’t be used to.”
Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, has been cautious about what his team can achieve next season.
The Englishman has been careful not to promise too much as the Ibrox club prepares for their return to the Premiership after a four-year absence and Lennon agrees that Celtic remain comfortably in front of the chasing pack.
He said: It’s a big year with Rangers coming back up, but Celtic are well ahead of Rangers on and off the field.
“It’s been missed. The semi-final this year was a great occasion, Scottish football needs it.
READ MORE: Former Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan: Brendan Rodgers should relish every minute as Celtic manager
"The gates that Rangers and Celtic bring will benefit all the other clubs in the Premier League as well, and hopefully they’ll be able to track a better calibre of player again.
"I’m not convinced how much investment Rangers will be able to put in the team, but Joey Barton signing has raised a few eyebrows.
“Mark’s done a great job there and did really everything that was asked of him. He’ll be disappointed to have lost the cup final obviously, but he’s got them up and they’re playing a brand of football that’s very good to watch.”
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