Neil Lennon considered quitting after difficult year

Neil Lennon considered giving up his job as Celtic manager as a result of threats against his safety.

• Lennon was left “very disturbed” after learning he was a target

• Two men were jailed over the incidents

Two men, Trevor Muirhead and Neil McKenzie, were jailed for five years for conspiring to assault the Celtic boss by sending parcel bombs to Celtic Park and the club’s training ground in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire.

The Northern Irishman has spoken about his difficult year in an interview with Real Radio, which will be aired on Monday evening. During the trial Lennon told the court he was left “very disturbed” after learning he was a target, along with other prominent fans of the club. Lennon’s close friend, Paul McBride QC, who was also a target, died suddenly while on a trip to Pakistan in March, days before he was to give evidence at the trial. The Celtic manager and former player, who was a pall bearer at Mr McBride’s funeral in Glasgow, said losing his friend coupled with the stress of the court case made for a “tough spell”. He said: “I had a real difficult time when Paul McBride passed away. And there was a spell where, on the Monday it was Paul’s funeral and then on the Tuesday I had to go and give evidence in the court case and that was a real tough, tough spell. “At times you think: is it worth it? You know, all these things that happen to you.” When asked by Mr Martin if he had any moments when he thought about “chucking it all in”, Lennon replied: “Yeah. I mean at the end of the day, your personal safety is in jeopardy or you feel it’s in jeopardy. “You know, I love Glasgow. I love the environment. It’s been my home for a long, long time. But there is an element to it that lets the city down”. The interview, the first of Real Radio’s week-long series of football specials, can be heard at 6pm on Monday.