I didn’t ask Lennon for square go, says Duffy

MORTON manager Jim Duffy has furiously denied Neil Lennon’s claims he challenged the Hibs boss to a ‘square go’ during the astonishing mass brawl at Easter Road on Wednesday night. The 57-year-old conceded he was ‘embarrassed’ when he watched footage of the confrontation towards the end of the 0-0 Championship draw. The flashpoint came after Morton’s Kudus Oyenuga clattered late into Jordon Forster on the touchline in stoppage time. Oyenuga, whose tackle earned a red card, then tumbled theatrically when approached by Darren McGregor, earning the Hibs captain an ordering off for a ‘retaliatory headbutt’. After Duffy confronted Lennon as he shouted at Oyenuga, fiery clashes broke out between the rival sets of players and coaching staff, before both managers were

sent to the stands by referee Nick Walsh. However, in a statement, Duffy poured scorn on Lennon’s claims that he had challenged him to a fight. He said: ‘Firstly, I would like to say that I watched the footage on television last night and, from my point of view, I was embarrassed when I saw my reaction. ‘I am not going to get involved in a public debate, but what I would state is that I one hundred per cent did not ask for a “square go” or use anything even remotely like that term. ‘Yes, I acted immaturely — but I’m not 12 years old.’ After the match, Lennon claimed Duffy had wanted to fight him on the sidelines, saying: ‘The next thing I’ve got the Morton manager asking for a square go — fair enough, I won’t back down.’ The Hibs boss pointed the finger of blame at Oyenuga, branding him ‘a disgrace’ and ‘an embarrassment’ for the potential ‘leg- breaker’ challenge. He also accused the Morton sub of ‘cowardice’ in feigning being butted by McGregor. The Easter Road side have confirmed they will appeal his red card. But Duffy blamed Lennon and his staff for intervening after Oyenuga’s awful challenge and he denied throwing any punches. ‘It was a poor challenge,’ said Duffy after the match. ‘The referee would have probably given a red card but their bench reacted then our bench reacted. Some things were said. ‘But no punches were thrown. If I throw a punch, you’d know about it.’ Under SFA disciplinary rules, instances of team staff misconduct are not dealt with under the governing body’s fasttrack system. But incidents not witnessed by the referee, claims of wrongful dismissal and simulation are all fasttracked and an update from compliance officer Tony McGlennan is expected today. Last night, an SFA spokesman told Sportsmail: ‘The compliance officer is considering all evidence available to him and will provide an update within the next 24 hours.’