Latest news with #DunfermlineAthletic
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex Hibs boss declared 'statement of intent' by Scottish club as 'outstanding' manager signs latest deal
There will be a familiar face in charge of Championship club Dunfermline Athletic next season. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Hibs and Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been rewarded for helping Dunfermline Athletic preserve their Championship status with a new permanent role as Pars manager. The 53-year-old has enjoyed a wide-ranging coaching career after taking up roles in England, Cyprus and Romania as well as taking charge of Celtic, Hibs and Dunfermline over the last 17 years. Lennon has picked up 12 major honours during that time and helped Hibs secure a return into the Premiership when they were crowned as winners of the Championship during the 2016/17 season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After a spell in Romania, Lennon returned to the second tier of the Scottish game in March when he penned a short-term deal to oversee Dunfermline's push towards safety after a deeply disappointing season at East End Park. The Irishman brought some improvement out of the side he inherited from Michael Tidser and a run of two wins and two draws in their last six games was enough to stay the Pars clear of relegation. Lennon will now take charge on a permanent basis and will start planning his summer recruitment after penning a new two-year deal that one key at East End Park has described as a 'clear statement of intent'. Chairman and CEO David Cook told the club website. 'This is an important moment for Dunfermline Athletic FC. Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive. His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club. 'None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of James and Evan. It would be remiss of me not to highlight their passion for moving the club forward. We know the past few seasons have been challenging — on and off the pitch. Entertainment has been in short supply, but our supporters have stuck with us through some difficult times. We aim to repay your loyal backing by competing at the right end of the Championship, giving you a team to be proud of.' Hibs experience SNS Group Speaking after his initial appointment at Dunfermline in March, Lennon referenced his Championship success with Hibs, saying: "It is great to be back in football, I know how competitive the Scottish Championship can be and we are not in the best of form. Last time I managed in the Championship was with Hibs. You learn from all the experiences as you go along. I really enjoyed my time with the media - believe it or not - but coaching is always what I wanted to do. I don't know how long this is going to be and we will take a view on it as we go along. But I am very excited about the prospect of trying to take Dunfermline forward." Your next Hibs read: Hibs transfer priorities and probabilities: Just how likely is Easter Road return for Ryan Porteous?
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex Hearts and Hibs men react to club exit as one admits injury hell and ace 'gutted'
The former Hearts and Hibs pair have been released by the same club Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hearts and Hibs duo have opened up after their releases from an SPFL club. Dunfermline Athletic have confirmed that ex Hearts striker Craig Wighton and previous Hibs playmaker David Wotherspoon are moving on at the end of their contracts. Wighton has already signed for Montrose following a loan spell at Links Park while Wotherspoon is heading for free agency. Hearts will face Dunfermline Athletic in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former Jambos forward has made an honest injury assessment in the wake of his Pars exit. After an ACL injury earlier in his career, he has candidly admitted that full time action isn't something his body can handle any more. Former Hearts on transfer decision He told Dunfermline Press: "I've played, I don't know how many games to be honest. It must be close to 400 games or whatever, so I've played a lot of football, and I've had a lot of good moments in my career as well. There's still plenty of time left, but I think at the part-time level is where it's going to be, so I'm just looking forward to the season with Montrose. "I think going to Montrose and training the two nights, some weeks only training the one night, I think my body has felt better, and my knee seems to be reacting to that a bit better as well. I think the days of me being able to train every day and the demands of full-time football are probably just too big an ask at this point. I'm happy with the decision and it's definitely the right thing going forward. "I don't want to just be at a club and only train one day here and there when they're full-time and boys are training every day. I don't think that works, personally, for a long period, so it's the right thing to do." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ex Hibs ace verdict after entering free agency Wotherspoon meanwhile was disappointed to be exiting Dunfermline Athletic. He said: "I mean, obviously, it's never nice, but it is what it is. It's part of football. You've got to try and roll with the punches and, unfortunately, I'm on the wrong side of one. I'm gutted to be fair. I enjoyed my time at the club. I felt like I made some good relationships at the club, on and off the pitch. "It's a great club to be part of and it's one that's got, that word, potential. It's got potential to go places but, at the same time, it is what it is. I felt like I tried my best and that's all I could do. I got involved in off the pitch side of things as much as I could and, with the coaching aspect, I was really enjoying it under John. I'm just gutted, obviously, but it's football. Nothing surprises me in football these days but I had an inkling that this was going to happen towards the end of the season. I wasn't playing as much and, from bits and pieces that I heard, I felt like it was maybe my time to go.'
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
'Important moment': Neil Lennon's Dunfermline future decided as ex-Celtic and Hibs man makes big call
Pars delighted to get long-term future of manager secured Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dunfermline Athletic have confirmed that Neil Lennon will remain as their new manager after agreeing a two-year contract with the Pars. Lennon joined the Championship club in March on a short-term deal tasked with keeping them in the second tier of Scottish football, with the East End Park side ending up safe in seventh place. And after negotiations with the club hierarchy, led by co-owner James Bord, the former Celtic and Hibs boss has agreed to prolong his stay in Fife. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An update from the Pars read: 'Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is delighted to confirm that Neil Lennon has signed a new two-year contract to continue as our manager. Neil Lennon has extended his tenure at Dunfermline boss. | SNS Group 'Neil, who joined the club in March 2025, played a pivotal role in guiding the team to Championship safety. His experience and leadership were key in steadying the side during a challenging period, and his impact both on and off the pitch was quickly felt across all areas of the football department. 'The new agreement will see Neil, along with his assistant Iain Brunskill, remain in charge at KDM Group East End Park until the summer of 2027, with preparations well underway for the upcoming season. Dunfermline Athletic chairman and CEO David Cook said. "This is an important moment for Dunfermline Athletic FC. Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club. Praise for Pars' owners 'None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of James and Evan [Sofer, co-owner]. It would be remiss of me not to highlight their passion for moving the club forward. 'We know the past few seasons have been challenging — on and off the pitch. Entertainment has been in short supply, but our supporters have stuck with us through some difficult times. We aim to repay your loyal backing by competing at the right end of the Championship, giving you a team to be proud of.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lennon signs two-year deal to stay at Dunfermline
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has agreed a deal to continue as manager of Dunfermline Athletic for the next two was brought into the Pars in March with Dunfermline struggling to maintain their place in the Scottish after guiding the club to safety he has now accepted the offer of a two-year contract with the aim of leading the Fife club back into the top flight of Scottish football."This is an important moment for Dunfermline Athletic," said Dunfermline chief executive David Cook. "Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive."His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club."
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
'Important moment': Neil Lennon's Dunfermline future decided as ex-Celtic and Hibs man makes big call
Pars delighted to get long-term future of manager secured Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dunfermline Athletic have confirmed that Neil Lennon will remain as their new manager after agreeing a two-year contract with the Pars. Lennon joined the Championship club in March on a short-term deal tasked with keeping them in the second tier of Scottish football, with the East End Park side ending up safe in seventh place. And after negotiations with the club hierarchy, led by co-owner James Bord, the former Celtic and Hibs boss has agreed to prolong his stay in Fife. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An update from the Pars read: 'Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is delighted to confirm that Neil Lennon has signed a new two-year contract to continue as our manager. Neil Lennon has extended his tenure at Dunfermline boss. | SNS Group 'Neil, who joined the club in March 2025, played a pivotal role in guiding the team to Championship safety. His experience and leadership were key in steadying the side during a challenging period, and his impact both on and off the pitch was quickly felt across all areas of the football department. 'The new agreement will see Neil, along with his assistant Iain Brunskill, remain in charge at KDM Group East End Park until the summer of 2027, with preparations well underway for the upcoming season. Dunfermline Athletic chairman and CEO David Cook said. "This is an important moment for Dunfermline Athletic FC. Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club. Praise for Pars' owners 'None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of James and Evan [Sofer, co-owner]. It would be remiss of me not to highlight their passion for moving the club forward. 'We know the past few seasons have been challenging — on and off the pitch. Entertainment has been in short supply, but our supporters have stuck with us through some difficult times. We aim to repay your loyal backing by competing at the right end of the Championship, giving you a team to be proud of.'
