Lennon feels Northern Irish bosses have ‘hunger’

Hibs coach believes countrymen display strong drive to succeed

Hibernian head coach Neil Lennon feels a “hunger” to succeed characterises the Northern Irish managerial contingent in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Lennon faces former Northern Ireland team-mate Tommy Wright when St Johnstone visit Easter Road tomorrow, and another two managers from across the water – Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers and Stephen Robinson of Motherwell – will go head to head in the Betfred Cup final the following weekend.

Another Northern Irishman, Michael O’neill, could soon be taking up a post in Scotland after the Scottish Football Association approached its counterpart in Belfast for permission to speak to its national team boss.

Former Celtic manager Lennon said: “We are taking over. I think there’s a hunger and a level of, believe it or not, intelligence – football intelligence and man-management.

“I think our backgrounds are very, very similar.

“There’s a real hunger there for us all to achieve. And the courses they are running in Belfast are excellent. You learn a lot and you pick things up as you go along.

“But Michael is at the forefront of that with what he has achieved with the national team.”

Should, as seems likely, the former Brechin City boss leaves the Northern Ireland job, Robinson would be a contender to replace him and the Motherwell boss admitted it would be a “massive honour” to manage his country.

Robinson served as assistant to O’neill until Euro 2016 and has since made a huge impression at Fir Park,

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I think there’s a hunger and a level of, believe it or not, intelligence – football intelligence and manmanagement. NEIL LENNON

guiding his side into the Betfred Cup final and up to fifth in the Premiership.

Though Robinson insists he is happy at Well, the 42-year-old from Lisburn admitted the chance to manage his country would be as good as it gets.

“It’s a massive honour for me (to be linked with the job),” he said ahead of his side’s trip to Aberdeen. “To manage your country and even be linked with that is huge.

“I take great pride in being from Northern Ireland and being part of the set-up before was a massive part of things for me.

“It’s great but as it stands at this moment in time, I’m the Motherwell manager, I’m very much enjoying it and Michael is the manager of Northern Ireland we must not forget.

“He hasn’t made that decision yet so at the minute nothing changes and I’m very happy at Motherwell.”

He added: “Everybody has an ambition, it’s probably the top level of your management career to manage your country, it’s huge.

“Whether it’s at this time or further down the line for me, that remains to be seen.

“I reiterate, I’m really happy at Motherwell, the club has been fantastic to me and my focus is on that.

“Michael is the manager of Northern Ireland and, for me, I hope he remains there and I genuinely mean that because he’s been a massive success and my kids would be devastated if he leaves!”

Wright would be another strong contender for the post, with the former Northern Ireland goalkeeper believed to be the Irish FA’S top choice should O’neill decide to move on after seeing his team denied a World Cup place in a controversial play-off defeat by Switzerland.