Lennon was dismissed by referee Craig Thomson at Tynecastle

Neil Lennon will be in the Celtic dugout for the New Year Old Firm derby at Ibrox after his disciplinary hearing, set for Monday, was postponed.

The Scottish Football Association's disciplinary committee was due to meet at Hampden to discuss Lennon's appeal against an automatic two-match ban.

But the freezing weather has caused the hearing to be cancelled again.

The Celtic manager was sent to the stand by referee Craig Thomson during a 2-0 defeat by Hearts on 10 November.

The adverse weather forced the postponement of the hearing on 7 December and this subsequent call-off means Lennon will not have to watch his team from the stand when Celtic play at home against Motherwell on 29 December and at Ibrox on 2 January.

The meeting is now likely to be reconvened in January.

The length of delay between crime and punishment at the SFA was addressed by former First Minister Henry McLeish in his damning Review of Scottish Football this week which, among a host of recommendations, called for a reduction in committees and a speeding up of disciplinary matters.

Thomson dismissed Lennon for his protests after his side were not awarded a penalty for a handball offence.

The referee's report led to a separate excessive misconduct conduct charge, which could see the touchline ban extended.

Once sent off, Lennon appeared to exchange a few heated words with the fourth official, Steven McLean.

The manager said immediately after the loss in Edinburgh that he could not understand why he had been ordered to leave pitch-side.

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