SNS GroupNeil Lennon has been appointed as the new manager of Dunfermline, the Championship club has confirmed.
Dunfermline began their search for a new manager after sacking Michael Tidser earlier this week, and have now tasked the experienced former Celtic and Hibs boss with turning around a poor run of form and easing the club’s relegation fears.
“I’m very excited about the prospect of joining Dunfermline Athletic Football Club,” Lennon told the club’s official website.
“Once I spoke to James Bord he put across a very compelling proposition on his ambitions for the club. However, short term our aim is obviously to be in the Championship next season.
“Having watched the match against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup it’s clear there’s talent in the squad, perhaps just a little low on confidence at the minute. What we want to do is bring an energy, confidence and an exciting brand of football.
“It may not happen instantly but we want to play on the front foot, excite supporters and get the players believing in what we’re doing.”
Lennon won ten major trophies across two spells at Celtic, and guided Hibs to promotion and the Championship title. Outside of Scotland, he’s managed Bolton, Omonia and most recently Rapid Bucharest.
He left the Romanian side last August after only three months in charge and has been working in the media since. but will now turn his focus to moving Dunfermline up the league table.
The Pars are currently in ninth position and in the play-off spot, six points clear of Airdrie in the automatic relegation place but just a point behind Hamilton.
Tidser was sacked on Monday after just 11 league games in charge, following defeat to Raith Rovers in the Fife derby.
The club had only appointed Tidser 60 days ago, paying compensation to Kelty Hearts after long negotiations to get their top target.
Assistant head coach Kevin McDonald, along with John McLaughlan and first team player David Wotherspoon were asked to take training in the interim period but Lennon will now be in the dugout for their next match, against former Celtic captain Scott Brown’s Ayr United on March 29.
Lennon will be joined by coach Ian Brunskill. After serving as assistant academy technical director at Liverpool for a decade, Brunskill spent time at Norwich, Blackpool, QPR and most recently Rapid Bucharest as assistant coach under Lennon.
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