Neil Lennon Poised to Take Over as Dunfermline Athletic Manager
Neil Lennon is on the verge of being appointed as the new manager of Dunfermline Athletic, a club competing in the Scottish Championship. The highly regarded former boss of Celtic and Hibernian comes to Dunfermline after a brief and challenging period with Romanian club Rapid Bucuresti, where he was relieved of his duties just three months into a two-year contract.
Lennon’s expected appointment makes him the third permanent manager for Dunfermline this season, following the dismissals of James McPake in December and Michael Tidser, who was let go after only two months.
Currently, Dunfermline sits in the perilous position of being second from the bottom in the league, six points clear of automatic relegation but just one point behind Hamilton. With seven matches remaining in the season, the club is determined to escape the relegation play-off spot.
In a statement regarding Tidser’s dismissal, the club indicated they were seeking a manager who could "help us maintain our league status."
Lennon’s inaugural match at the helm is likely to be against Ayr United, a team chasing promotion and managed by his former Celtic captain, Scott Brown.
A Look at Lennon’s Managerial History
Neil Lennon has an impressive yet tumultuous managerial career. After an initial period as Celtic’s caretaker manager, he took on the permanent role in June 2010. There, he secured the Scottish Cup in his debut season and went on to win three consecutive league titles along with another Scottish Cup. Lennon left Celtic after four successful years but faced struggles at Bolton, where financial difficulties plagued the club.
Transitioning to Hibernian, Lennon achieved notable success by leading the team back to the Scottish Premiership and qualifying for the Europa League. He also finished fourth in the league before parting ways with Hibernian three years later.
His second stint at Celtic commenced as an interim manager, where he again led the club to a domestic treble. He was permanently appointed following this success but departed in 2021 after Rangers reclaimed the top position for the first time in a decade.
Lennon’s international journey also included a successful run with Omonia in Cyprus, winning the Cypriot Cup before being dismissed after a year, while his latest role in Romania ended prematurely after three months due to difficult results.
Dunfermline’s Upcoming League Fixtures
- March 29: Ayr United (A)
- April 2: Livingston (H)
- April 5: Hamilton Academical (H)
- April 12: Queen’s Park (A)
- April 19: Partick Thistle (H)
- April 26: Airdrieonians (H)
- May 2: Morton (A)
As Dunfermline Athletic aims to secure its league status, all eyes will be on Lennon to steer the club towards safety in the upcoming matches.
