Lennon won’t give up on McGeouch

Neil Lennon has not given up on persuading Dylan McGeouch to stay at Hibernian after revealing the midfielder could be set for a change of heart.

The Easter Road boss previously admitted the out-of-contract Scotland squad member had decided it was time to move on.

The 25-year-old appeared close to tears as he waved goodbye to the Leith crowd following their final game of the season against Rangers.

England was expected to be his next move, with Fulham, Brentford and QPR keeping tabs on the former Celtic playmaker.

But Lennon is clinging to the hope that McGeouch might decide against heading south and instead pen a fresh deal to remain in Edinburgh.

Lennon said: “It’s an interesting one with Dylan because it’s not done yet. We are still in there fighting for that.

“We’ve a small chink of light. The way he was after his last game we more or less felt that may be it but there’s still some movement there. The club have made him what we feel is a very good offer.”

Lennon faces having to start again this summer unless he can tie down deals for some of the star performers who took his newly-promoted outfit to a whisker of finishing second. John McGinn remains at the centre of speculation tipping him with a move south – although no firm offer has yet been received – while loanees Florian Kamberi, Jamie Maclaren and Scott Allan are due to return to their parent clubs.

But Lennon, who shrugged of headlines suggesting he was ready to move for Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday, is confident he can hold onto the bulk of the squad.

l Partick Thistle have kept faith with Alan Archibald following their relegation.

The Maryhill club announced they would retain Archibald as manager three days after a play-off defeat to Livingston consigned them to the Ladbrokes Championship.

Chairman David Beattie said in a statement: “Alan steered the club to Premiership promotion and kept us there for five seasons, including a top-six finish, a feat not achieved by any other Thistle manager in at least 25 years.

“His honesty in admitting that mistakes were made last season is the mark of a man of integrity and his commitment to this club has never been in doubt.”

l Brechin City goalkeeper Graeme Smith has left the club after five years to join newly-promoted League 1 side Stenhousemuir.

The 34-year-old, who has also had spells at Rangers, Ross County, Motherwell, Brighton, Hibs, Azerbaijan side Gabala, Partick Thistle and Ayr, played more than 200 games for the Glebe Park side.

Smith has agreed a two-year contract with the Warriors for their League One campaign and City manager Darren Dods is now on the lookout for a new shot-stopper.

Dods said: “I would like to wish Graeme well at his new club. Things move on and I already have a target in mind to replace him.

Cowdenbeath have confirmed nine players will be leaving Central Park.

No contract offers have been made to Blair Penman, Joe McGovern, Matthew McInally, Shaun Rutherford, Ali Smith, Jack Whittaker, Ben Reilly, Jordan Hornby and Scott Rumsby.

The Fife club, which avoided dropping out of the league altogether thanks to a play-off win over Cove Rangers, stated: “We gratefully thank them for all their service to the club.

“We wish them well in their future careers.”