PREMIER AIM FOR NEW BOSS
Lennon lands Hibs job and vows to return club to top tier
to be tough. What can I offer this club? I can hopefully bring a winning mentality. ‘I am following big shoes with Alan (Stubbs) and what he achieved here. ‘The remit is obviously trying to get promotion but that will be difficult because of the competition that’s in the Championship. ‘I think the budget will be strong for the division. But I don’t think we’ll be favourites. You’ve got Dundee United coming down and Falkirk finished ahead of us. ‘We have to overcome those teams, as well as Dunfermline, who will have good momentum. ‘I know Scottish football very well, I played in the lower leagues very early on in my career, so I don’t have an issue working in the Championship.’ Lennon, who was interviewed about a possible return to Celtic, also spurned interest from China. And having seen the facilities on offer at the club’s training base, he is in no doubt that he’s made the correct call. ‘It feels great, I’m really happy,’ he added. ‘It is a big club, a good squad of players. I think there is real potential here. ‘For me, it’s a really good move, a good fit, negotiations have gone well. I have a really big challenge on my hands but I am really looking forward to it. ‘The facilities are incredible. I have been really impressed.’ Sportsmail understands Lennon will also be under no pressure to sell any of his star players despite the substantial losses incurred through relegation followed by two seasons out-with the top flight. It was widely expected that Hibs would forsake either Jason Cummings or John McGinn in order to balance the books. With on-loan duo Anthony Stokes and Liam Henderson having left after last month’s Cup triumph, the prospect of losing a third key member of that side was central to Lennon’s concerns. Sportsmail believes, however, that the Northern Irishman has been given an assurance that there will be no requirement to sell either player to the highest bidder — a pledge that strengthened his resolve to get a deal done.
NEIL LENNON last night vowed to get Hibernian back into the Premiership without further delay after finally agreeing to become their next manager.
After an evening of tense negotiations at the club’s East Mains training base, the former Celtic boss signed on the dotted line to accept a two-year deal shortly before 10pm last night.
Garry Parker, his long-term sidekick, has also agreed to join him in Leith.
The Northern Irishman had been out of work since leaving Bolton in March. And he insisted his sole focus was now ensuring his new club follow up last season’s historic Scottish Cup triumph by winning the Championship outright.
‘We want to get Hibs back where we think they should be,’ said the 44-year-old. ‘That’s in the Premiership. And, if we can win a few trophies on the way, so be it.
‘But the remit is to get promotion. That’s going