Neil Lennon lifts the lid on Premiership job snub and dugout chaos as ex Celtic boss targets history with Dunfermline

Daily Record

3 days ago

The former Hoops manager was linked with a string of top flight positions but explained on why he's up for Pars adventure
Premiership manager jobs have become like buses. You wait for months for one to turn up then about five appear all at once.
Neil Lennon could have hopped on board most of them – but the ticket to Dunfermline was the only one he wanted.
‌
The former Celtic and Hibs boss could easily have been facing the media this week wearing the colours of Dundee, Motherwell or Kilmarnock.
‌
Rangers or Hearts would have been a turn up for the books, but a fair amount of fans of the other three clubs would have welcomed Lennon in a heartbeat.
But the man himself didn't give those gigs a second's thought. The seven-week stint as caretaker boss in these parts was enough to convince him to stick around for the long term.
Lennon penned a two year deal this week and rather than managing back in the Premiership, his dream is to lead the Pars to the promised land.
The Northern Irishman said: 'It's just because of the owner (James Bord) here. I really enjoyed the seven weeks and then enjoyed speaking to him about what the plans are.
'I got a good feel about it as well. I've always had a bit of loyalty in my career and felt I owed him that as well.
‌
'My mind was made up weeks ago. I didn't speak to any other clubs or entertain it.
'I am really focused on the job in hand. I don't get excited very much at my age but this is really exciting me.'
It must do, as Lennon could easily have settled for the quiet life, working as a respected and engaging pundit, watching the game from the sidelines. It's not how he's wired up though.
‌
Lennon – who admitted the door is open for Victor Wanyama to return – said: 'I know, but I would miss the edge. Talk to all coaches, they have that inner competitive edge, we all have it.
'You go and do the games as a pundit and then you get in the car afterwards and that's it.
'If you are a coach you are thinking about what is happening, what you need to do and so on, it's very stimulating.
‌
'Yeah, some might like that it's done and dusted after the game when you are a pundit but I like that it's not.
'You need that edge. In a perverse sort of way I enjoy the chaos. You miss it. I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think I still had plenty left in me and if I thought I couldn't make an impact.
'I had to ask all those questions of myself. I have liked the last couple of months. The football wasn't sparkling but we got the job done. Now we have a new page to write.'
‌
The book is already bursting at the seams though. Lennon has experienced the lot in the dugout, from the trophy laden joys of two spells with Celtic, promotion with Hibs and cup and Europa League success abroad.
Then there were the struggles. The mayhem of the covid season and the failed 10-in-a-row bid with the Hoops, the shock sacking by Omonia and the brief crazy spell with Rapid Bucharest.
It's been a wild ride but some things never change as Lennon said: 'You get all experiences as a manager. Sometimes you take the good ones for granted and that's what you learn as you get older, you have to enjoy the wins and enjoy the good times.
‌
'The tough times, everyone experiences them. All the great managers have had big games where they've lost cup finals.
'What you want to do is go back, go again and rectify that.
'This one's different for me, no question and something I'm really looking forward to.
‌
'So I've still got that experience and I think I can bring that to Dunfermline.
'I want to excite people.
'I might get into a few conflicts along the way….just to get the crowd going, the players going, more than anything.
‌
'But it won't be dull!'
It won't be easy either. Lennon is well aware the Championship is brutally tough to escape, especially next term with relegated St Johnstone and Ross County around.
‌
It might take a couple of seasons but he's in it for the long haul – and he'd love to secure a place in the club's illustrious history along with former heroes such as Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson.
Lennon said: 'I see Fergie's face every day! I saw him a couple of weeks ago at the Airdrie game and told him I was sick of seeing him!
'Obviously there is Jock as well. I like it. There's a great history and tradition here.
‌
'The owner now has good ideas. He said the club is under his skin now and it took him four goes to convince me but in the end he sold it to me.
'I felt I owed him something back. We want to make an impact and have people remember you for the right reasons – and that's what I am aiming to do.
'Going up is the ultimate objective. I have a two year contract and I think it will be difficult but not insurmountable to do that.
'Every other club in the league will be thinking the same.'
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.