Rangers takeover: Neil Lennon calls naming of panel ‘grossly unfair’

NEIL Lennon believes it is “grossly unfair” that the Scottish Football Association have named the three-man panel who are to hear Rangers’ appeal against SFA sanctions on Wednesday.

The Ibrox club were hit with a 12-month transfer embargo and a £160,000 fine for breaches of regulations last month. The SFA decided to name Lord Carloway, former Partick Thistle chairman Allan Cowan and Spartans chairman Craig Graham after consultation with the police and after the original tribunal members were revealed last month, following Rangers manager Ally McCoist’s call for those making such weighty decisions to be identified.

Lennon has expressed surprise that the SFA have bowed to such pressure and the panel has been named. “It is grossly unfair,” he said. “These people do it voluntarily, they do it because they love the game, and do it for the right reasons.

“I don’t think there is any need, but that’s the decision the SFA have made, so you need to ask them why they have done that. I think it puts extra pressure on these people and they are under enough pressure as it is.”

Lennon was speaking before his side’s last match of the season against Hearts at Celtic Park tomorrow, when they are due to be presented with the Scottish Premier League championship trophy. The Celtic manager is unsure as to the nature of the Scottish football landscape which the side will return to next season, as the crisis engulfing Rangers shows no signs of abating.

However, he has called on the Celtic fans to keep on turning up in their numbers, with or without the attraction of Old Firm derbies. Re-affirming his desire to remain at the club, Lennon promised the supporters that they will be watching an improved Celtic next season. He remains confident that transfer targets will still wish to join the club despite all the uncertainty in Scottish football.

He has begun talks with chief executive Peter Lawwell about bringing in new players, although he acknowledged that they will have to trim the squad. “There is a vast European market out there and a lot of talent, which is well within our budget,” he said. “We still could spend £3-4 million [on a player] if we need to.

“Towards the end of this season we have had full houses. The supporters will come if you put a successful team on the pitch. It is still Celtic, and there is still an SPL and European football.”