Neil Lennon is officially back in management after penning a two-year contract to take charge of Dunfermline Athletic on a permanent basis.
Lennon steadied the ship at East End Park in a brief interim spell last season, helping Dunfermline avoid the drop, and he’s now been handed the reins full-time as the club aim to push forward.
Now 53, Lennon is still a prominent presence in the Scottish game. Though he’s carved out a successful stint in punditry, the lure of day-to-day management was something he couldn’t turn down.
He said: (TCW), “I know I could be a football pundit, 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.
“In the modern era, it’s very claustrophobic, being analysed by the media and social media. You need to step away from that. I’ve worked on the media side and know how it works, I’m okay with it.
“You are more mature now and know what to get involved in and what not to get involved in. Some people 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. I miss the chaos. 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.”
Lennon’s appointment marks a statement of intent from the Pars, who have ambitions of climbing the Championship table next season. His experience at the top end of the Scottish game, both as a player and manager, brings a level of respect rarely seen at that level.
He’ll now get a full pre-season to shape the squad in his image and attempt to add the competitive edge he so clearly thrives on. With his trademark intensity back on the touchline, Dunfermline fans can expect a side that mirrors his drive.
While it’s a different challenge from his days at Celtic, Lennon’s return to management brings added interest to the Scottish Championship. And if his words are anything to go by, he’s more than ready to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in.
