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THE FORMER HOOPS MANAGER WAS LINKED WITH A STRING OF TOP FLIGHT POSITIONS BUT EXPLAINED ON WHY HE'S UP FOR PARS ADVENTURE 20:47, 03 Jun 2025Updated 22:35, 03 Jun 2025 Premiership

manager jobs have become like buses. You wait for months for one to turn up then about five appear all at once. Neil Lennon could have hopped on board most of them – but the ticket to

Dunfermline was the only one he wanted. The former Celtic and Hibs boss could easily have been facing the media this week wearing the colours of Dundee, Motherwell or Kilmarnock. Rangers or

Hearts would have been a turn up for the books, but a fair amount of fans of the other three clubs would have welcomed Lennon in a heartbeat. But the man himself didn’t give those gigs a

second’s thought. The seven-week stint as caretaker boss in these parts was enough to convince him to stick around for the long term. Lennon penned a two year deal this week and rather than

managing back in the Premiership, his dream is to lead the Pars to the promised land. Article continues below The Northern Irishman said: “It’s just because of the owner (James Bord) here. I

really enjoyed the seven weeks and then enjoyed speaking to him about what the plans are. “I got a good feel about it as well. I’ve always had a bit of loyalty in my career and felt I owed

him that as well. “My mind was made up weeks ago. I didn’t speak to any other clubs or entertain it. “I am really focused on the job in hand. I don’t get excited very much at my age but this

is really exciting me.” It must do, as Lennon could easily have settled for the quiet life, working as a respected and engaging pundit, watching the game from the sidelines. It’s not how

he’s wired up though. Lennon – who admitted the door is open for Victor Wanyama to return – said: “I know, but I would miss the edge. Talk to all coaches, they have that inner competitive

edge, we all have it. “You go and do the games as a pundit and then you get in the car afterwards and that’s it. “If you are a coach you are thinking about what is happening, what you need

to do and so on, it’s very stimulating. “Yeah, some might like that it’s done and dusted after the game when you are a pundit but I like that it’s not. “You need that edge. In a perverse

sort of way I enjoy the chaos. You miss it. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think I still had plenty left in me and if I thought I couldn’t make an impact. “I had to ask all those

questions of myself. I have liked the last couple of months. The football wasn’t sparkling but we got the job done. Now we have a new page to write.” The book is already bursting at the

seams though. Lennon has experienced the lot in the dugout, from the trophy laden joys of two spells with Celtic, promotion with Hibs and cup and Europa League success abroad. Then there

were the struggles. The mayhem of the covid season and the failed 10-in-a-row bid with the Hoops, the shock sacking by Omonia and the brief crazy spell with Rapid Bucharest. It’s been a wild

ride but some things never change as Lennon said: “You get all experiences as a manager. Sometimes you take the good ones for granted and that’s what you learn as you get older, you have to

enjoy the wins and enjoy the good times. “The tough times, everyone experiences them. All the great managers have had big games where they’ve lost cup finals. “What you want to do is go

back, go again and rectify that. “This one’s different for me, no question and something I’m really looking forward to. “So I’ve still got that experience and I think I can bring that to

Dunfermline. “I want to excite people. “I might get into a few conflicts along the way….just to get the crowd going, the players going, more than anything. “But it won’t be dull!” It won’t

be easy either. Lennon is well aware the Championship is brutally tough to escape, especially next term with relegated St Johnstone and Ross County around. It might take a couple of seasons

but he’s in it for the long haul – and he’d love to secure a place in the club’s illustrious history along with former heroes such as Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson. Lennon said: “I see

Fergie’s face every day! I saw him a couple of weeks ago at the Airdrie game and told him I was sick of seeing him! “Obviously there is Jock as well. I like it. There’s a great history and

tradition here. “The owner now has good ideas. He said the club is under his skin now and it took him four goes to convince me but in the end he sold it to me. “I felt I owed him something

back. We want to make an impact and have people remember you for the right reasons – and that’s what I am aiming to do. “Going up is the ultimate objective. I have a two year contract and I

think it will be difficult but not insurmountable to do that. Article continues below “Every other club in the league will be thinking the same.” _TUNE IN TO HOTLINE LIVE EVERY SUNDAY TO

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