ONLY SEVEN GAMES LEFT AND IN DANGER OF RELEGATION... BUT NEW MANAGER NEIL LENNON INSISTS HE COULD BE AT DUNFERMLINE FOR THE LONG HAUL
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Neil Lennon has revealed he could consider a longer-term commitment to Dunfermline regardless of the outcome of his initial spell in charge.
The former Celtic and Hibs boss has taken over the Pars for the final seven games of the season, with their Championship status hanging in the balance.
Currently in the relegation play-off spot, the Fifers are six points clear of bottom side Airdrie and two points adrift of guaranteed safety.
New owner James Bord, who completed his takeover in January, has tasked Lennon with keeping Dunfermline in the second tier after predecessor Michael Tidser was sacked following just 60 days in the job.
While survival will occupy his immediate thoughts, Lennon has been impressed by the Las Vegas-based Londoner ambitions for Dunfermline, who have not been in the top flight since 2012.
The 53-year-old, whose first game will be against promotion contenders Ayr at Somerset Park on Saturday, admits he is enticed by the prospect of helping Bord take Dunfermline back to the big time.
‘Even if things don’t go well right away, I could possibly see a way to stay for the foreseeable future,’ said Lennon.
‘It would be good to build something, rather than just looking for a quick fix. I think there is huge potential here and it’s something that maybe we can get our teeth into.
‘Last week, there were a lot of conversations with the chairman and owner, they made a very compelling argument for me taking the job.
‘James was so compelling, he talked me around in long conversations. We spoke four or five times before I decided to take it.
‘There’s an old adage from Sir Alex Ferguson that, as a manager, sometimes you pick your owners rather than the club.
‘I think we have a good one here, he’s got good aspirations for the club further down the line. James is a very interesting man, who has ambitions to do great things here.
‘A lot of owners will say that but it’s how they follow that up. He’s different, there’s no doubt about that, and I’ll learn a lot from him.
‘We already speak every day, like an old married couple arguing away. He’s been great, very supportive and very supportive of the players.
‘His first line to me was “Dunfermline has got under my skin”, so he really wants it to work. I’ve not met someone in football like him before, the way he thinks about the game and the way he thinks about the future.’
Lennon is delighted to be working in Scottish football again after his last two managerial roles, at Omonia in Cyprus and Rapid Bucharest in Romania, ended after seven months and three months respectively.
‘I’ve had other opportunities to go abroad, which didn’t suit me because of personal reasons, and I was close to getting a job in England the other week,’ he said.
‘But I live in Scotland and it’s familiar for me. I enjoy the game here, I’ve missed it and I can’t wait to get back into it.’
Read more 2025-03-25T19:59:02Z