Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has said that he wants Rangers to win promotion this season to improve Scottish football and help Celtic.

Rangers will need to win the Scottish Championship playoffs to gain promotion after Hearts were confirmed as champions on Sunday.

"It's essential for the game in Scotland that Rangers get back to the Premiership as quickly as possible," Lennon told Goal.com.

"They are struggling but new people have come in who I think have the best interests of the club at heart. It's important and that's why Scotland has struggled [in European competition]. Celtic need it as well – the competition has been missing.

"There's no doubt the Scottish game is significantly weaker – Hibs, Hearts and Rangers are in the Championship and they were a big loss in terms of revenue, crowds, quality and competition."

Lennon, who now manages Bolton Wanderers, won five Scottish Premiership titles as Celtic captain and added a further three during his time as manager between 2010 and 2014.