Lennon lands two-game ban from SFA
SAYS NEIL LENNON
“I look at game in isolation and I am not fazed”
JUST 24 hours after branding his ‘boyband’ side ‘pathetic’ in defeat to Aberdeen, Neil Lennon was singing from a happier song sheet.
By claiming his Hibs side are the second best team in Scotland this season, however, he knew he was making a bold assertion that wouldn’t strike a universal chord.
Even so, an unrepentant Lennon yesterday stood by those comments, made in the wake of Saturday’s 3-2 Scottish Cup semifinal loss to a Dons side sitting comfortably in second in the Premiership.
He now looks forward to trying to prove his side’s credentials on the park next season, with his plan to take the top flight by storm boosted by yesterday’s official confirmation that St Johnstone talisman Danny Swanson is heading to Easter Road on a free this summer.
With more canny acquisitions, allied to keeping the nucleus of his title winners in Leith — including stars John McGinn and Jason Cummings — Lennon feels Hibs can join Aberdeen and Rangers in the battle for second next season.
‘I did say that I think (Hibs) are the second-best team in the country. That’s my opinion. You don’t have to agree with it,’ he said.
‘The facts are that Aberdeen are (second). But from what I see — and from what I saw on Saturday — if we’d been in the Premiership this year, we’d have been challenging for second place.
‘Derek McInnes has done a fantastic job. He’s probably done everything they could have asked of him.
‘But I look at the game in isolation, and it doesn’t faze me at all. We played better football.
‘I think Rangers will be stronger next season. Whether they’ve got the resources to get Pedro (Caixinha) what he wants for next season, you’d like to think that, year-on-year, they will get stronger.
‘I need some quality adding to my squad but don’t forget I’ve got assets here not many teams in Scotland have.
‘We had a bid of around £2million for Jason Cummings this season (from Peterborough). Not many teams outwith Celtic and Rangers can attract that kind of money for players.
‘There will be suitors out there for John McGinn as well and we’d be looking for serious money if that was the case.
‘I’m not saying we want to sell. I’m saying this is what I have here and that makes me confident we can make a good fist of things next year.
‘I’m pleased to get Danny Swanson. He’s got creativity and goals in him. He’s been St Johnstone’s best player. And he’s a Hibs boy, so he’ll understand the culture of the club almost immediately.’
Lennon has a host of first-team regulars out of contract at the end of the season, including captain David Gray, Darren McGregor, Lewis Stevenson, Liam Fontaine, Marvin Bartley, Fraser Fyvie, Chris Humphrey, Martin Boyle, Grant Holt and James Keatings. But he is not expecting a mass exodus from a club who won the Scottish Cup and the Championship in successive seasons.
‘I’m not losing any sleep over it,’ insisted Lennon. ‘I think the majority will sign on. We’ve made them offers and the majority are on decent money as it is.
‘Some players may have personal issues but they would have to be really good footballing reasons to leave Hibs just now.
‘They’ve had a couple of great seasons and I think we can get better.’
Lennon has given the majority of his cup semi-final team off until tomorrow, meaning youngsters Kevin Waugh, Fraser Murray, Scott Martin and Innes Murray will be in the squad to face Raith Rovers at home tonight.
‘I want to use my squad,’ he said. ‘I want to see what I’ve got for next season, but it will be a strong team.’
Meanwhile, new arrival Danny Swanson has admitted it was a tough to leave St Johnstone, but insists he could not turn down a move to his boyhood heroes.
Swanson yesterday confirmed the open secret that he had penned a pre-contract agreement to move to the newly-crowned Championship winners on a free transfer in the summer.
The 30-year-old is now hoping his Saints swansong will be helping the team pip Hearts to fourth place and securing Europa League football for them.
‘The pull of Hibernian was too much for me,’ said Swanson.
‘It’s always been an ambition of mine to play for the club and I am looking forward to this new challenge and to help them achieve their goals back in the Premiership. The decision to leave St Johnstone has been a difficult one for me.
‘I’ve felt settled at the Saints and really enjoyed my football. It has been the most enjoyable and satisfying time of my career.
‘Now that we are in the top six yet again, it’s my focus to make sure I play my part in helping St Johnstone qualify for a European place.’
Swanson was recently fined four weeks’ wages along with Saints team-mate Richard Foster after they brawled with each other at half-time at Hamilton.
In a statement, Swanson thanked St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright for his support on and off the park.
However, Wright has declined to comment on whether the player will now feature in the post-split fixtures. ‘It’s one of those situations that, as a manager, we’ll move on from,’ he said. ‘I’m better keeping my thoughts to myself. Players come and go.’