Celtic: Neil Lennon would not want to lose Hearts from the SPL

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he has "huge" sympathy for Hearts boss Gary Locke as the Tynecastle side face uncertainty over their future.

Hearts' parent company UBIG has asked to be declared insolvent, leaving the Jambos threatened by a points deduction and potential relegation from the Scottish Premier League.

"It's a pretty sad situation," he said.

"We'd lose probably the third biggest club. We've already lost the second biggest so it doesn't look good."

Lennon is preparing his SPL-winning side for a final league game of the season against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

“We'd lose probably the third biggest club. We've already lost the second biggest so it doesn't look good”

Neil Lennon Celtic manager

And he hopes the SPL of 2013/14 is one that has Hearts in it.

"It's a great club with great tradition and it's only this time last year that they won the cup final," he said.

"Hearts have a decent support for a club in Scotland and to lose that would be pretty damaging.

"Gary [Locke] has been thrown in at the deep end. I don't know if he'll be aware of everything that's going on because sometimes these things are kept from people, but knowing his character, he'll see it through okay.

"The powers that be might have contingency plans in place."

With a Scottish Cup final against Hibernian also coming up on 26 May, the Parkhead boss says his playing budget for next season has not been discussed.

He has not told those who have no future at the club as he wants everyone focused on the Hampden showpiece.

However, Lennon confirmed that the South African international midfielder Daylon Claasen is spending time on trial with the Hoops.

Taken from the BBC