Tom Boyd believes that former Celtic team-mate Neil Lennon will thrive at Easter Road next season.

Lennon is expected to be paraded as the successor to Alan Stubbs today in Leith and Boyd has backed him to get Hibs out of the Championship and back into top flight football.

The former Hoops boss was keen to go back to the Parkhead club following Ronny Deila's resignation, but the post was given to Brendan Rodgers. And Boyd expects Lennon will be delighted to get back into the game after a difficult time at Bolton.

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Glasgow Times: Welcome aboard: Neil Lennon leaves Hibernian's training centre on Wednesday night

“It’s a good fit,” he said. “I’m delighted to see him back in Scottish football. He’d a very successful time at Celtic.

“This is a different challenge to him in the Championship which I think for Hibs has proven very difficult to get out of in the last couple of years.

“It will be the same next season with Dundee United and Falkirk – who did ever so well last year.

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It will be another competitive league which is has been previously.

We know what he brings – a lot of passion to a football club as did Stubbsy when he was there. Hopefully he’ll continue the optimism that Hibs now have having won their first Scottish Cup in so long.

“That’s been a pressure which has kept them down all these years so maybe by winning that, getting a new manager in Neil and they can keep progressing.

“There will certainly be plenty of enthusiasm and optimism about the club.”Glasgow Times: Chip of the old block: Tom Boyd is hoping his son, Thomas, can shine at the Scottish Boys Championship (Picture: SNS)

And, with his tongue firmly in cheek, Boyd insisted that there will be no issue for Lennon dropping down the divisions.

“We were told a couple of years ago that it was the most competitive league in the world,” he said. “It turned out it wasn’t although there were certainly plenty of good games and there will be a lot of competitive games next season.

“Hibs are a big club in Scottish football. If he can turn them around it will go well for his CV.

“It would be strange to see him manage against Celtic but it would be the same if he was an ex player coming up against them. It will be difficult.

“But he’ll do his job. That will be unquestioned. If they ever meet in the cups or get promoted, he’ll be out to do his best for Hibernian Football Club – the same as he did at Celtic and Bolton.”