Paul: Celts could be back in for Lenny
HIBERNIAN legend Paul Kane says the club could struggle to hold on to Neil Lennon if interest in Brendan Rodgers from the English Premier League materialises into something concrete.
The Celtic manager addressed speculation linking him with the Arsenal job last week as rumours over Arsene Wenger’s future at the London club continue to grow and gave an indication that he would not be in Glasgow for the long haul.
Kane says he believes Lennon, who still has a strong relationship with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, is happy at Easter Road but accepts that if his old club came calling he might find it hard to resist the lure of a second spell at Parkhead.
“I think Brendan is letting Arsenal know that he is available in the proper kind of way,” said Kane.
“I think Neil would be one of the names [on the list to succeed him] but that situation will only happen if Brendan goes.
“I think there is a strong bond there between [Lennon] and the [Hibs] supporters, Neil and Leeann Dempster.
“Listen, if he does really, really well for Hibs and there is a situation that comes along that was a no-brainer, that he sees as a dream come true, I don’t think anyone would stand in his way.”
That said Kane, a lifelong Hibs fan, does not believe it would be a foregone conclusion that Lennon would leave Easter Road.
“He’s got the mental toughness imprinted on the Hibs team,” said Kane.
“He’s got a winning mentality and that saying about the boy band is no longer there. He has got the mentality that he brought from Leicester to Celtic. He’s brought that to Easter Road.
“He said looking from the outside in, that he felt Hibs were soft and he has definitely got rid of that.”