Andy: Lennon will put us in Frame
United boss sure front man Chris can fire side to top flight
IF Chris Lennon is “not good enough” to play at the very top level of Junior football then somebody should tell Cumbernauld United boss Andy Frame.
He has just completed the signing of the speedy front man for a third time and is unashamedly pinning the Guys Meadow outfit’s hopes of promotion into the Super Premier Division on the 26 year old’s shoulders.
Lennon was an integral figure in the Frame-steered Thorniewood United side that won the Central League Cup in 2015 and the seasoned gaffer’s appreciation of the player’s attacking abilities resulted in a short-term transfer arrangement taking him to Cumbernauld towards the end of last season even though the Bellshill based ace had already shook hands with then Arthurlie manager Chris Mackie on a move to the Barrhead club at the start of this season. Injuries as well as major dressing-room upheaval on the back of Mackie’s shock resignation have severely blighted Lennon’s time at Dunterlie and led to him recently asking to be placed on the transfer list.
HIS willingness to drop down a division in order to rediscover his enjoyment for the Junior game was music to Frame’s ears.
Frame added: “A lot of points are needing to be put on the board if we are to figure in the promotion places and bringing in Chris and also Ross McCabe [from Pollok] can only help our cause. And their experience of the Super Premier Division will prove even more invaluable if we do go up
“Chris had an unfortunate time of it at Arthurlie through no fault of his own but I have seen at close quarters what he can bring to a team when he is at the top of his game and that’s why I didn’t hesitate to bring him back here.”
The prospect of a second United debut in today’s Super First Division head to head with basement strugglers Larkhall Thistle was not fazing Lennon when looking ahead to the Gasworks Park contest.
The one-time Dunfermline signing said: “There are still close to a dozen players at the club from when I played last season so settling into my new surroundings has been a formality and everyone has made me feel welcome.
“Now comes the part where I try to justify Andy’s faith in me and I’m desperate for the game to go ahead.
“Robbie Winters and Fraser Team are the two other strikers so I cannot expect to walk straight into a starting jersey.”
There remains the prospect of Cumbernauld United becoming embroiled in an end of season play-off head to head against relegation threatened Barrhead, but Lennon said: “I might not have enjoyed the best of times at Arthurlie but I believe they have more than enough good players to get themselves clear of danger and our Cumbernauld United squad looks capable of stringing a few wins together to secure one of the automatic promotion spots.”