Gers job? Not on your Lenny
MOTHERWELL v HIBS Playful Hibs gaffer happy to be off bookies’ list to replace axed Pedro
NEIL LENNON has playfully ruled himself out of the Rangers job and claimed underperforming stars let down Pedro Caixinha.
The Hibs boss is doing sterling work at Easter Road but his absence from the bookies’ list to replace the Portuguese hardly comes as a shock.
Lennon knows the pressure of the Old Firm hotseat after four years at Celtic and thought the Light Blues were beginning to flicker into life under Caixinha.
But dressing-room turmoil and a string of disappointing results, including a Betfred Cup exit to Motherwell and 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock, cost him in the end.
Lennon said: “I’m not surprised the bookies don’t have me in for the job, I’m relieved. It would be a challenge in more ways than one – my life has been difficult enough!
“It came down to results in the end for Pedro. At one stage they started to look like the team I thought they were going to be when they went to Hamilton and scored four then beat St Johnstone 3-0.
“They were starting to look a decent side, powerful. I thought at the start of the season they recruited well but it’s an unforgiving environment and they’ve had a really difficult week.
“The semi-final defeat was a huge blow and it was followed up with a disappointing result. It has not just been this week though, it has been over the course of the seven months.
“It’s well documented all is not well in the dressing room, which is something that shouldn’t lose a manager his job but it doesn’t help.
“I’ve a lot of sympathy and empathy for him because I don’t like to see anyone lose their job. The expectation at Rangers is huge and they’re still in a transitional phase since going down the leagues.
“With the money they’ve spent the players should be looking at themselves as well and thinking they should be doing better.
“It can happen a manager loses a dressing room. Sometimes you have to keep it in house, batten down the hatches and let nothing get out if you’re going through a difficult period rather than going the other way. It
The players at Rangers should be looking at themselves and doing better NEIL LENNON
was a bit loose as well at times, you have to try and nip that in the bud.”
Hibs bounced back from their Betfred Cup defeat to Celtic with a convincing 1-0 win over city rivals Hearts and could even go third today with a win over Motherwell.
Managers from Northern Ireland are riding high in the Scottish game just now and Lennon added: “There is a familiarity, we are a very similar race of people.
“It’s only 12 miles across the sea and there is a hunger about the Irish boys as well. We have a real pride about ourselves and want to do well.
“Brendan Rodgers is doing miracles at Celtic and Tommy Wright has as well at St Johnstone. Stephen Robinson has just added to that list coming in at Motherwell and has made a fantastic start to the season.
“I like the way they play, to their strengths, and I know there was a lot of controversy after the game last week but I can’t comment because I haven’t seen some of the incidents.
“They play in an honest way. It got a bit tasty on Sunday but I won’t criticise Motherwell for adopting that approach. It has been effective.”
Efe Ambrose is ready for anything Motherwell throw at him at Fir Park after standing tall against a Hearts side he reckoned only knew how to play a long-ball game.
The ex-Celtic defender said: “Paul Hanlon and I knew we would have to deal with long balls from Hearts which is one of their strengths.
“They had to look for the second option and didn’t have one. That helped us overcome them and we kept the ball and enjoyed the game.
“After playing at home against Motherwell earlier this season I recognise they are team who are well organised and fight for every ball.
“People think they are crazy with their style of play but you cannot take it away from them. You have to match them. It’s a man’s game. The tackles only make you stronger.”