LENNY’S SOUARE FLO
Kamberi packed bags after bust-up Row sparked mutiny among senior players
A furious bust- up with Swiss striker Florian Kamberi sparked a player revolt that sealed Neil Lennon’s Easter Road fate.
Lennon’s stint as Hibs gaffer looks over after he singled out Kamberi during a heated v ideo analysis meeting with his top- team squad on Friday.
Mail Sport understands the hitman then challenged his
manager, along with others, and that resulted in an angry verbal exchange between the pair.
Contrary to some reports, there was no physical altercation but Kamberi was left furious at being singled out.
Mail Sport understands the striker was threatening to pack his bags and leave the club following Lennon’s blast but has since been talked out of doing that.
It is believed that some senior players at the club made chief executive Leanne Dempster aware of Lennon’s behaviour.
That led to the Northern Irishman and his No. 2 Garry Parker being suspended by the club, with coaches Grant Murray and Eddie May in charge for today’s Premiership game against St Mirren.
One source told Mail Sport that when players, including Kamberi, reported for training yesterday they felt a weight had been lifted off their shoulders with Lennon not there.
Trouble has been brewing for the Hibees boss for months.
In December he let rip at Kamberi after a game against Livingston as he questioned his work rate and hunger.
The striker was a revelation for Lennon when he was brought in on loan from Grasshopper last term before making the move permanent in the summer.
However, it’s understood the player’s confidence is at rock bottom after his manager’s swipes at him.
Lennon also threatened to quit last May after a derby defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle, when he labelled his players “amateurs”.
This summer, after losing stars John McGinn, Dylan McGeouch and Scott Allan, he became increasingly frustrated by a lack of ambition.
We understand that when Hibs and Celtic were trying to negotiate a deal for McGinn, Lennon was keen to sign Parkhead playmaker Ryan Christie, only to see McGinn sign for Aston Villa instead.
Lennon and Parker have been suspended pending a process that looks certain to see the duo leave Easter Road after years at the helm.
A club statement said: “Hibernian FC can confirm that Eddie May and Grant Murray will take charge of the first team for Sunday’s Ladbrokes Premiership game against St Mirren.
“Eddie and Grant , who both have experience of f irst- team management, have worked closely with the first team as part of the match-day coaching staff.
“The full focus of the club is on the trip to Paisley.”
Hibs, Lennon, Kamberi and the player’s agent refused to comment last night.