Football: YOU WILL BOW OUT FOR AGES; Exclusive.

Byline: By Euan McArthur

DAVE BOWMAN last night told Celtic star Neil Lennon to brace himself for an SFA hammering in the wake of his Ibrox outburst.

Bowman was handed a whopping 17-match ban by the beaks for swearing at a referee while playing for Second Division Forfar at Stranraer four years ago.

Now the former Dundee United hardman reckons Lennon finds himself in the same boat after his verbal attack on ref Stuart Dougal in the Old Firm defeat before shoving linesman Jim Lyon.

Bowman said: "Neil will know himself he's in for a big ban judging by the reaction to Saturday's events.

"I think he should book a holiday for himself in the Bahamas because it looks as though he won't be eligible to play for some time once the SFA decide on his punishment.

"I know better than anybody the SFA can be pretty tough when it comes to discipline.

"My crime was just swearing at the referee but Neil was guilty of shoving the linesman as well in what was a high- profile game - whereas mine was at Stair Park.

"If I got 17 games then you never know what Lennon could end up getting."

Bowman was reminded of his own act of folly as soon as he saw Lennon explode near the end of the first Old Firm game of the season.

As a fiery midfielder in the same mould as the Parkhead skipper, the Tannadice coach had more than his fair share of run-ins with officials during his playing career.

And he can see similarities between his own shame-game at Stair Park and Lennon losing the plot at Ibrox.

Bowman said: "Like Neil I just lost it the very same way. There were only a couple of minutes left when I got sent off for dissent and things just spiralled from then onwards.

"It continued up the tunnel and to be honest I can't remember how many red cards I was shown.

"In hindsight you realise you're in the wrong because no matter how you're feeling, you just can't shout and swear at a referee.

"Deep down Neil will be regretting his actions but it's too late now - it's all been done."

But Bowman reckons the worst is still to come for Lennon as the SFA disciplinary committee gets ready to meet to decide his fate.

With Dougal's report of the incident now in the hands of the SFA,Lennon can only hope for the best.

Bowman said: "It was bad enough what happened at Stranraer but then I had to wait to see what would happen next.

"I actually found out the decision from somebody in the Press who phoned me up that day to tell me the news.

"I was lost for words. There wasn't even any point in appealing because I knew it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference.

"In fact I was told that if I went over the disciplinary points total the next season - whichwasonly five bookings - I'd behitwithan18-matchban"At that point I just decided to call it quits and hang up my boots.

"I'm sure Neil will come back from this but he'll be a big loss while he's out."

Bowman admits he has some sympathy for Lennon, who picked up his third red card in Old Firm derbies since being brought to Parkhead by Martin O'Neill.

But the former Scotland star knows there can only be one winner when it comes to confrontations with refs.

Bowman said: "I don't know if it's anything to do with the red hair that both of us have.

"But sometimes it's a hindrance as red-heads are more easily noticeable when they shout at referees.

"It's a player's livelihood we're talking about here and not just their hobby.

"At the end of the day, though, referees are always right as plenty of players have found to their cost in the past