The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lennon slams timing of disciplinary hearing
Hibernian: Easter Road gaffer wants date changed as it clashes with cup tie
Hibs boss Neil Lennon has hit out at the Scottish FA after his disciplinary hearing was scheduled two days before the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.
And as the fall-out from last Wednesday’s fiery goalless draw with Morton continues, Lennon is delighted at having defender Darren McGregor’s red card successfully reduced to a yellow following yesterday’s appeal.
But the Northern Irishman is still bemused as to why Ton striker Kudus Oyenuga, who was ordered off for a crunching tackle on Jordon Forster, will not face retrospective action for what he described as feigning a headbutt to get McGregor ordered off.
Lennon, Morton manager Jim Duffy and his assistant Craig McPherson have all been called to appear at Hampden on April 20 for their part in the heated injury-time scuffle.
And former Celtic boss Lennon plans to ask for a postponement so he can be in the dugout for his side’s last four showdown against high-flying Aberdeen.
Lennon, whose side travel to Cappielow tomorrow, said: “I’m not happy with the date. I don’t understand why it can’t be done now, or on Monday or Tuesday.
“I will go and defend myself. I will look to get it delayed because if it’s on a Thursday before a semi final and they deem me guilty of something – whatever that is - then I miss the semi final.
“And I think that’s totally unfair. Bang out of order. Why is it delayed to the 20th? The players have been dealt with so why cant we be dealt with?
“What more do they need to look at?”
Lennon and Duffy have fallen out over the melee but despite their differences, the Hibs head coach insists his Morton counterpart should be a candidate for Championship Manager of the Year, with Ton only 11 points adrift of the league leaders.
Lennon added: “They didn’t start the season well and we beat them handsomely but Jim has found a really good way of playing and whatever has gone on, ultimately, as a manager, you have to pay tribute to the job that he has done.”