Hibs boss gripe over McDonald

NEIL LENNON has vehemently disputed Scott McDonald’s claim that Hibs never made a serious offer to take him to Easter Road. The 32-year-old stalled on signing a new deal with Motherwell at the end of last season — a scenario which encouraged Lennon that a reunion with his former Celtic colleague might be possible. McDonald killed off that hope on Friday, however, by extending his stay at Fir Park by a further year. The Australian later

insisted there had been no real chance of a move to Leith materialising — claiming an initial discussion with Lennon and Hibs’ head of recruitment Graeme Mathie was as far as the matter went. ‘He’s been really economical with the truth,’ said Lennon. ‘First of all, we did not approach him. He approached Hibs. (He) approached me, saying he wanted to come here and work with me. ‘Graeme Mathie was negotiating with him over the weekend before last and it got to the stage when it had gone on for three or four days, so I rang his agent. ‘I asked what it would take to get the deal done and he told me. I spoke to Leeann (Dempster, chief executive) and she said: “Yes we can do that”. ‘That was last Tuesday and I got back to his agent and said we’ve agreed everything that you and the player want. ‘I said I expected to see Scott at the training ground on Wednesday and he said that’s great. ‘I came in on Wednesday and there was no sign of him. ‘Graeme told me he wanted to renegotiate and I said no. Deal’s off. ‘So you can imagine my surprise on the Friday when he comes out and says there was no interest from us and there wasn’t a deal on the table.’ Lennon is adamant he has no problem with the player deciding to stay put but he takes exception to the striker publicly dismissing Hibs’ interest in him as being cursory. ‘I don’t mind him gaining kudos with the Motherwell support, but certainly not at the expense of me and Hibs,’ added Lennon. ‘On the Wednesday, he was ringing and texting to get the deal back on. We wouldn’t shift on it. Then we read all that nonsense.’ Asked if McDonald had since tried to contact him, Lennon replied: ‘Basically, I got a text saying we must have got our wires crossed, but I certainly didn’t.’ Meanwhile, Lennon believes he is close to putting the finishing touches to a new deal for Jason Cummings. The Scotland Under-21 forward has a year left on his deal and Alan Stubbs’ Rotherham are circling with intent despite the former Hibs boss vowing he would not raid his old club for talent. ‘I’m hoping to get the Cummings negotiations finished off quick,’ said Lennon. ‘If we can, that will be another boost. ‘We’re under no pressure to sell, so I’m not worried about any rumours at all.’