I’ve had it way worse, Lennon tells JC
HIBS head coach Neil Lennon insists any off-field grief Jason Cummings is suffering is nothing compared to what he went through.
In 2008, Lennon was assaulted in Glasgow’s trendy west end.
Three years later, parcel bombs and bullets intended for Lennon were intercepted by the Royal Mail, and the Northern Irishman was confronted on the touchline by a Hearts fan during a game at Tynecastle.
Cummings’ colourful personality has made him one of the most high-profile footballers in Edinburgh, which has brought him some unwanted attention.
And Lennon has spoken to his player about how to handle the pressure.
The former Celtic boss said: “I’m not saying he’s an angel but he’s not a bad boy at all. He’s a bit of a target.
“I’ve said, ‘whatever you’re going through, multiply it by a million and you might come close’.
“You can always accommodate that, whether he moves out a little bit from the city or we keep an eye on him.
“I didn’t want to move, I liked where I lived. It was not far from my work. I would have gone stircrazy if I’d gone out to the country.
“I’m not ready for all that just yet. I was well briefed and well looked after by the intelligence people.”
The Tynecastle incident on May 11 2011 was a notable low for both Scottish football and Lennon.
He added: “It was quite a tempestuous time for me, on and off the field.
“Whether we’ve learned from it and moved on, I don’t know.”
Asked if life is more mundane with Hibs, away from the Glasgow ‘goldfish bowl’, Lennon added: “The postman is a lot happier these days, he’s sleeping quite easy at the minute.
“There is enough pressure with the job without all the other nonsense going with it. That’s why I am a bit more relaxed and enjoying life here.”