HIBS BOSS BANNED BUT BACK FOR TITLE PARTY

NEIL LENNON was last night handed a two-game ban for his role in the Battle of Easter Road — but will be back in the dugout when Hibs are presented with the Championship trophy. After a hearing at 7pm last night, the SFA finally confirmed at 11.52pm that Lennon had been handed a two-game ban with a further two-match ban suspended following ugly scenes towards the end of a goalless league draw with Morton last month.

The extra two-game suspension will only be served if the Easter Road boss breaches Rule 203 — relating to ‘adopting an aggressive attitude’ — before the year end. At the Hampden hearing, Lennon was judged to have adopted an aggressive attitude towards Cappielow boss Jim Duffy ‘and/or a Morton player’. The 45-year-old was also found to have adopted an aggressive attitude towards the match officials after Hibs captain Darren McGregor was sent off for an alleged headbutt on Morton’s Kudus Oyenuga. But it was not proven that Lennon adopted an aggressive attitude towards Oyenuga. Lennon will now sit out tonight’s home Championship match with Raith Rovers and Saturday’s trip to Ayr United before returning to the technical area at home to St Mirren on May 6, when Hibs will pick up the title. At last night’s hearing, Hibs were also fined £750 after a complaint was upheld that three or more of their players were involved in a confrontation with Morton players and/or staff. A further £250 will be payable if there is another breach of disciplinary rule 204 by Hibs players before the end of the year. Trouble broke out during Morton’s visit when Oyenuga went in late on defender Jordon Forster. Duffy later admitted he was embarrassed by his conduct and was last week hit with a threegame ban — one of which was suspended for good behaviour. Duffy’s assistant, Craig McPherson, also faced a misconduct charge, but escaped punishment. However, Morton admitted that three or more players and/or members of staff were involved in a confrontation with their opposite numbers and were fined £750, with £250 of that sum suspended pending a repeat offence before the end of the year. Speaking before the hearing, Lennon said: ‘We have defended it as vigorously as we can. ‘We will see what the punishment is, if there is one, and take it from there.’