NEIL LENNON reckons Ally McCoist has suffered more than anyone through the financial meltdown at Ibrox and uncertainty over the future of the Ibrox club.
Lennon also revealed he has put aside any previous differences with his Old Firm counter-part, who infamously had a very public dis-agreement with Lennon at the end of a match at Parkhead last year.
Now respect is the link between the two men occupying the most high-profile and difficult jobs in the Scottish game.
After watching his side inflict a 3-0 defeat on Rangers at Celtic Park, Lennon said of the man who is coming to the end of a turbulent first season as a manager: "They have had a tough week, and Ally has had to deal with things that a football manager should not have to deal with.
"I think he has been left high and dry by a lot of people, and basically he has been the spokes-person for the club for the last three or four months.
"That's a huge distraction from what he is trying to do, and in his first season as well, he's had to take on a lot.
"I would not have liked to have been in his shoes.
"I think what's gone on, Rangers are getting punished for it and the fans are suffering for it, but I think Ally is the one who has suffered more than anybody."
When asked if they have moved on from their differences of the past, Lennon replied: "You have to.
"There is tension always around these games. But we have a healthy respect profes-sionally for each other.
"It's a dog-eat-dog business. It's me or him, and it's my day today.
"But he has had a couple of days at Ibrox this year where they have come out on top.
"From a personal point of view, I have got a lot of time for the guy."