Neil Lennon has backed Celtic chief Peter Lawwell to stand up to the Champions League bullies and fight for Scotland’s place in Europe.
The interim Hoops boss is hoping to be the man to lead their charge on the continent next season and beyond but is concerned about recent moves to make the elite competition a closed shop.
Leaked proposals have revealed the European Clubs Association are pushing to guarantee 24 of the 32 available spots for certain clubs regardless of their domestic league finishes each season.
The move would leave several countries, including Scotland, feeding on the scraps.
Lawwell is on the ECA board and Lennon is convinced the Hoops supremo will be battling to keep the door open. He said: “We’ve got to prepare for that, try to progress and be ready for that when it comes.
“It’s really important to try to get into that upper echelon and stay in there.
“Will Peter be fighting our corner? One hundred per cent. It’s important for Scottish clubs. Even if you think about the eastern European clubs.
“Sometimes they don’t get a fair crack of the whip. Even the Dutch clubs. Ajax have had a stellar season.
“They are the first team to make the semi-finals from the qualifying rounds. We have four qualifiers. It’s a big ask. You get tough draws.
“So it (Ajax’s run) has to give a lot of inspiration to a lot of clubs, including ourselves.
“It’s important we keep trying to progress in the right way for that format if it does come in.”
Celtic kick off their Euro campaign in just 57 days and watching last week’s epic semi-finals has got Lennon hungry to be involved next term.
He has Champions League success on his CV after leading the Hoops to the group stage twice – and all the way to the last 16 in 2013.
He will be tuning in to the final and reckons Scottish football should be proud to be represented in the Spurs v Liverpool clash. He said: “You’ve got Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.
“Three players who five years ago were plying their trade in Scotland are in a Champions League Final. Scottish football’s c**p, isn’t it?”
