Final build-up, Pages 2-5

The former Parkhead manager praised Lennon as an “incredible character” yesterday as he looked ahead to the Scottish Cup final between his old club and Motherwell.

Strachan had Lennon in his Celtic team and then appointed him to a coaching role after the player had spent a season in England.

Having won the first honours of his own managerial career at Celtic Park, Strachan recalled that the late Tommy Burns, another who graced the Parkhead dugout, once highlighted the significance of trophy No.1.

“Tommy talked about that, about how the first trophy made it feel like it was all worthwhile. That initial celebration: it suddenly becomes worthwhile. All the nonsense you put up with, it makes it all worthwhile. No-one can take it away from you.

“I know Lenny. I know him very well. He’s an incredible character. No matter what happens, even as a player, whatever problems he had off the pitch he could come in and switch on and start his business again. He can do that, it’s absolutely fantastic that he can.

“He’s a strong character and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. What happened in the last couple of weeks, not winning the championship, will make him stronger and he’ll gather more knowledge for the challenge ahead.”

Strachan, who left Celtic two years ago and has been out of work since leaving Middlesbrough in October, bemoaned the controversies which have blighted Scottish football recently, above all the parcel-bomb campaign directed at Lennon and other Celtic figures.

“It’s been a season to remember for one or two things we’d rather forget, to be honest. It’s kinda reverberated around the world, which is unfortunate.”

He watched on television as Lennon was assaulted by a supporter at Tynecastle this month, evoking memories of the two occasions when he was the victim of attacks by Celtic supporters while playing for Aberdeen in the early 1980s.

“Somebody said that [attack on Lennon] was terrible and horrible . . . and I said ‘yeah, I started that 30 years ago’. That was kinda retro, that attack. I was attacked twice. I was twice as annoying as Neil.”