Neil Lennon is back on the familiar territory of death threats, controversy and outrage - faux though much of the latter might be. During his time as a combative midfielder for Celtic and then, when manager of the club, he was subject to two assaults in the streets of Glasgow, another on the side of the pitch at Tynecastle and was the subject of threatening packages and bullets sent through the mail.

The latest episode follows Saturday’s volatile clash between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox, which the Easter Road side won 3-2. During his celebrations of Hibs’ goals, Lennon made a pumped arm gesture towards the fans behind his technical area, who were responsible for what is understood to have been sustained invective directed towards him earlier in the proceedings.

Lennon’s response – commonly known in Glasgow as the ‘gerrit up ye’ gesture – prompted complaints to Police Scotland, whose spokesperson confirmed receipt of the fans’ grievances and said: “Enquiries are being conducted.”

Club 1872 – the Rangers supporter and shareholding group – also issued a statement condemning Lennon for his behaviour which, after the fashion of Jane Austen, they described as “not becoming of any football manager.” The statement also said of Lennon that he was “one who likes to play the victim when things do not go his way” before adding - without evident irony - that his actions occurred “against the backdrop of possibly the worst refereeing performance ever seen at Ibrox”.