ONLY those who have walked in the lonely shoes of an Old Firm manager know what life is really like when you are in charge of Rangers and Celtic.

Steven Gerrard is ideally placed then to offer support to Neil Lennon and to understand what his former Parkhead foe has been living through amid a disastrous campaign that has seen their ten-in-a-row dreams turn into a nightmare.

Lennon's second spell as Celtic manager came to an end on Wednesday morning. The success of Gerrard's side has undoubtedly played a part in that scenario and there is a personal sympathy alongside the professional rivalry.

Gerrard said: "Without a doubt, I can certainly understand the pressure and the sacrifice you have to make to be in this position as an Old Firm manager.

"Obviously I can only talk from the blue side. I’ve been in the job for nearly three years and it’s a very demanding environment.

"There is a lot of pressure involved and it’s part of the job you sign up for. You understand that if things are going well, it’s fantastic and you get a lot of praise for that. You have an opportunity to be a success.

"But on the other side, when things are not going well, it can be a lonely place. Of course it can. I’ve experienced that in my short stint here.

 

 

"So I totally appreciate the job that Neil has done for Celtic. As I said earlier, I take no personal satisfaction in seeing a rival manager lose his job, or any manager. Because I understand what you have to put into this job on a daily basis."

Gerrard and Lennon may have been on opposite sides of the great Glasgow divide and the Premiership title race but there has never been an animosity between the pair. In the tribal Old Firm battle, there was a mutual respect.

And the 40-year-old will look to catch up with Lennon once again in the future as he considers his options and his next move in management following a campaign to forget in the Premiership and Europa League.

Gerrard added: "I know Neil as a guy. I know his family from holidaying in the same areas. And he’s a good guy.

"He has been a big supporter of my charity over the years. Obviously we have to put that aside when you are big rivals and I have enjoyed the battles and going toe-to-toe with Neil on the sideline. He’s a good coach, a good manager.

"I’m sure once the dust settles in time, we can share a pint together again. But the reality in Scotland is that if the pressure’s not on you, it’s on your rival. If the pressure’s on you, it means that your rival is doing well.

"That’s the game that me and Neil have both been in for the last couple of years. I wish him well in the future and we move forward here at Rangers."