INTERNATIONAL colleagues are leading the call for Neil Lennon to think again after his announcement yesterday that he plans to quit the international stage.

The Celtic midfielder was the subject of a death threat ahead of Wednesday night's friendly between Northern Ireland and Cyprus at Windsor Park - where he was due to captain his country for the first time.

He withdrew from the game on police advice after the BBC's Belfast office received the threat in a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

And in the aftermath of the game Lennon yesterday revealed the episode had forced him to call time on his international career.

Among those leading the calls are his Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy and international teammate Aaron Hughes.

The Newcastle United defender admitted he was still struggling to get his head around the events of the last 48 hours, but said he hoped the former Leicester City player would return to the fold.

"It's a terrible shame and I hope he changes his mind," said Hughes. "But we have to look at it from Neil Lennon's point of view.

"He was thinking mostly about his family. Neil Lennon knows what he wants in his own head and I just hope that when he has time to think about it he'll change his mind. I have been lucky enough to captain my country once and I am sure he was as proud as anyone when Sammy McIlroy asked him to skipper the team."

McIlroy will also do his utmost to persuade Lennon not to give in to the minority who forced him into the decision.

Although McIlroy concedes what has happened to Lennon has led to him considering his own future, he has vowed to battle on, and is hoping Lennon will eventually do the same.

The Catholic midfielder was first informed of the news by McIlroy, prior to speaking with the police and his family before deciding to pull out of the game.

McIlroy can understand the 31-year-old Celtic star's feelings on the harrowing matter at this point in time, which is why he will not be speaking to Lennon until after the weekend when his emotions will not be running as high.

''It gives me a little bit of hope when I see the word 'probably'. That is not definite, although he has also said 'enough's enough,''' said McIlroy .

''I'm going to let him play for Celtic at the weekend and I'm going to try and get a hold of him afterwards to have a chat with him and get his final thoughts on it.

''I will definitely try, when I speak to him, to ask him to re-think. I won't be putting any pressure on him because I can't do that. It is a serious matter, but I am hoping in time he may re-think.

''If he doesn't I understand. I haven't had a lot of football with Neil due to injuries and other things, but he has been a good player and he will be sadly missed.''

McIlroy, asked if he too had had enough in light of such sickening behaviour, stated: ''Absolutely. Definitely. It's crossed my mind.

''But the fans and the players are the ones who have kept me going. They've backed me 100 per cent in everything I've tried to do."

Hughes also believes the majority of fans still back Lennon - and the team will struggle to cope with his loss.

"My best mate was at the game and he said that in the Kop the fans were singing his name," said Hughes. "It's just a shame. We are not the biggest squad in the world and to lose someone like Lennon really hurts us. I'll try and give him a call and all the lads feel the same. In the end it's just a game of football."