John Collins does not think he would accept an invitation to take on the manager's post at Parkhead. Having seen just what Neil Lennon has had to contend with this season, Collins is not willing to put his family through the trauma for a job. Collins was linked to the manager's job when Tony Mowbray was sacked in 2009, but Lennon took the top job at Parkhead. Lennon's first full season as manager has been memorable but, unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. This year Celtic narrowly missed out on the SPL title and won the Scottish Cup while Lennon was the target of two "viable" parcel bombs last month, while two other prominent Celtic fans, lawyer Paul McBride QC and former MSP Trish Godman, were also sent similar devices. Thankfully, none of the packages, which police described as being designed to cause "real harm", detonated. Lennon had to cope with 24 hour security as he went about his job, but a supporter attacked him after breaking past security to reach the dugout during Celtic's 3-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle.
Collins enjoyed a successful year in charge of Hibs, winning the League Cup, and is hoping to get back into management after his 18-month spell in charge of Belgian side Charleroi came to an end in May 2009. Collins insists he is not after Lennon's job and doubts that he would ever take over the manager's position at Parkhead because of what has happened to him this year. He said: "What has happened would put me or any manager off that job. You have to think of your family and your family's wellbeing. There's no doubt what happened in Scottish football this season surrounding Neil Lennon will have a massive effect on the rest of his life and the lives of everyone around him. It's unhealthy. In that environment, I can't say it's a job that would be appealing."
Both sides of the Old Firm have condemned the the incidents linked to Lennon and Collins knows how strained the relationship between the two sides can get having played over 200 times for Celtic. He has joined the chorus who are calling on the authorities to stamp out any trouble. Collins said: "Sad and disgusting are the words I would use to describe what happened. It's something we don't want to see in football and in Scottish society. Rivalry is healthy but not hatred, religion and sectarianism. Those things have nothing to do with football. We have to find out the ones who are doing it and make sure we keep them away from football stadiums because it will only bring the game down."
Lennon received the most threats including being sent bullets in the post in January, but has always remained determined to stay in charge despite the threats. Collins admires the way that the Celtic manager has carried on with his duties. He said: "It must have been frightening and worrying for him and for his family. I don't know how he kept going but all credit to him. He has not let it drive him out of the game. The easiest thing would for him to say 'I don't need this in my life' but if he had done that then the winners would have been the perpetrators so he has done the right thing. Hopefully as a country we can root out the evil and the problems so we get back to talking about football."