Neil Lennon: I’ll be happy to take a call from new Bhoy Ronny!

If new Celtic boss Ronny Deila interrupts me with a phone call, I’d be more than happy to take it.

I’ll be spending the next few days digging out my passport and packing my bags for Brazil. I’m really looking forward to the tournament and hope it will be all that a World Cup in the spiritual home of the tournament should be.

But if new Celtic boss Ronny Deila interrupts me with a phone call, I’d be more than happy to take it. I don’t know if Ronny will want to get in touch. But if he does I’ll do whatever I can to help him out.

Obviously he’ll have his own ideas on how he’ll want to take the team forward, and I’m sure he’ll put his own stamp on it. That’s always the case when a new manager takes over as everyone has different ways of working. It was the same for me when I succeeded Tony Mowbray back in 2010.

I suppose it’s possible Ronny might want to ask me about the players, or maybe other aspects of the job. If he does, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

It was nice to end my own time at the club in good circumstances. I don’t have an axe to grind with anyone at Celtic Park so I’ve got a good relationship with everyone. So if Ronny feels having a chat with him might be advantageous to him, then I’m here to help.

The first thing I’ll tell him, if he doesn’t know it already, is that being manager of Celtic is a fantastic job. How many clubs can you take over that play in front of 60,000, are always in the running for domestic trophies and regularly compete in the Champions League?

I do believe there is a shelf life with the post, and it was the right time for me to move on and give someone else a chance. I don’t know if Ronny will be aiming to maintain the standards we’ve set or if he will be aiming even higher? But he’s got a wonderful opportunity.

I’m obviously aware of him, and he has a reputation as a talented young coach. I really hope it works out well for him. I’d love to see him be successful.

Of course, his first big challenge will be making sure Celtic get through the qualifiers to the group stages of the Champions League. There is plenty of money in the bank from previous Champions League campaigns and player sales, so the loss of revenue wouldn’t be hugely damaging. They are difficult games and when they come so early in the season, and for a new manager who has only been in the job a matter of weeks, it’s a big ask.

Hopefully Celtic do qualify because that is the level you want to be operating at and the supporters live for the European nights.

Ronny is inheriting a group of players who have developed a winning mentality over the last few years. It’s also a squad that really has to be considered a Champions League squad, so I don’t see why the team can’t do well again this season.