HIBERNIAN will learn today whether Neil Lennon has accepted the challenge of becoming their next manager.
The former Celtic and Bolton Wanderers manager is the man the club want to replace Alan Stubbs following his departure for Rotherham United at the end of the season but as of last night negotiations with the Northern Irishman were still ongoing.
Lennon, who met Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster and the club's head of football operations George Craig on Friday, is thought to be interested in the role but is seeking assurances as regards to his budget. He is reportedly keen to recruit his former Leicester City and Celtic colleague Garry Parker as assistant but speculation that an announcement would arrive yesterday proved wide of the mark.
Read more: Why Neil Lennon is an ideal fit for Hibernian
While there is no indication of Hibs moving onto pursue other targets just yet - other names which have been linked with the post include Malky Mackay, Alex McLeish and Stuart McCall - they are keen to fill the vacancy as soon as possible. Lennon will jet out to France imminently to carry out media work as a BBC pundit on Northern Ireland matches during Euro 2016 and Hibs also have a tight timetable, with their first Europa League qualifying tie in mid-July.
Lennon already has the endorsement of his predecessor Stubbs and yesterday he received support from one of his ex-players in the former Easter Road striker Stephen Dobbie. The striker spent last season under Lennon at Bolton Wanderers, and said there was little anyone could have done during a campaign which saw them finish rock bottom of the SkyBet Championship against a backdrop of budget cuts, unpaid wages, a transfer embargo and the constant threat of administration. In four years at Celtic, the Northern Irishman led the Parkhead side to three Scottish top flight titles, and two Scottish Cups, also memorably defeating Barcelona to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
“I don’t think Neil’s reputation should be tarnished by what happened at Bolton because he was working under hard circumstances,” Dobbie said yesterday. “It would have been a hard task for anyone to keep the team going in the situation we were in, so I don’t think what happened there has tarnished what he did at Celtic at all.
Read more: Odds slashed as former Celtic boss Neil Lennon emerges as favourite for Hibs job
"He just needs a fresh start and another challenge," he added. "Going into a new club that’s on a high would give him a good boost. Hibs are on a high after winning the Scottish Cup and, if he goes in there, he’ll have a good chance of taking them out of the Championship without Rangers or Hearts being in there. He would be a great appointment for Hibs.”
Dobbie, who made 35 appearances for Hibs between 2003 and 2005, including the 2004 League Cup final, believes Lennon in fact performed admirably to keep morale amongst the players high.
“The restraints on the club, it nearly going into administration, the players not getting paid and all that sort of stuff, it was a hard time for the players and the coaching staff," Dobbie added. "Neil didn’t have much money to spend. He just had to bring in free transfers and loans. But he did as much as he could to keep us going and keep us fighting. Even though we weren’t getting results, we were actually playing some good stuff.”
Read more: Neil Lennon - I was disappointed I didn't get the Celtic manager's job
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