Lennon backs Dempster as SFA chief exec

Neil Lennon believes Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster would be the ideal candidate to sort out the mess at the SFA but hopes she does not get the opportunity.

The Hibs manager is not surprised that Dempster is being touted as an early frontrunner to replace Stewart Regan, who resigned as SFA chief executive on Thursday.

He left the post with the association seeking a new national coach. Lennon says he would back Dempster to turn things around, as she has in previous posts.

“She made a very good executive at Motherwell and she has been an excellent chief executive at Hibernian,” Lennon said. “I don’t want her to go, obviously, as I have a very good professional relationship with her but I can understand why her name has cropped up. She is smart, bright and forward-thinking and she doesn’t suffer fools gladly and she can handle me!”

Dempster is credited with righting the ship after Hibs were relegated, building bridges with disenchanted fans and bolstering season ticket sales.

Lennon, who has been linked with the Scotland job, said the current state of the SFA was “incredible”. “The national team does not have a manager, it does not have a chief executive and I find that unbelievable,” he said.