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The Courier
05-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
First pre-season friendly of Neil Lennon's new Dunfermline Athletic era announced
Dunfermline will play Fife neighbours Kelty Hearts in a pre-season friendly. The match is thought to have been mooted as part of the deal that took Michael Tidser from Kelty to East End Park back in January for his short-lived stint as manager. It is the first of this summer's friendlies involving the Pars to be announced. Neil Lennon is scheduled to take his side the short journey to New Central Park on Saturday, July 5, with a 3 pm kick-off. The teams met last season in the SPFL Trust Trophy, with Dunfermline winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Kane and Matty Todd. The Fifers begin their Premier Sports Cup campaign a week later with a glamour trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle. That game, which will feature Derek McInnes' debut competitive match in charge of Hearts, has been chosen for live television. Dunfermline are also expected to also play friendlies on the weekend of June 28/29 as well as the following two midweeks as Lennon prepares his side for his first full season in charge. The former Celtic and Hibernian boss, who took over for the last seven games of last term, recently penned a new two-year deal to stay on at East End Park. Kelty are also under new management, with defender Tam O'Ware being handed the reins permanently after a short stint as caretaker following the departure of Charlie Mulgrew in April. The League One side will also face Kirkcaldy & Dysart on June 28, Broxburn Athletic on July 1 and Clyde on July 8 before kicking off their cup campaign with a trip to Brora Rangers on July 15.
The National
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Neil Lennon vows to entertain Dunfermline fans and targets Premiership
Celtic great Lennon helped the struggling Fife outfit to avoid relegation from the Championship after taking over from Michael Tidser for the final seven league games of the 2024/25 campaign. The Northern Irishman, who brought in former Parkhead centre-half Victor Wanyama and oversaw wins over Livingston and Queen's Park during his brief spell in charge, has now signed a two year deal. He acknowledged that, with both Ross County and St Johnstone both dropping down a division, that going up will be challenging. However, he remains determined to lead Dunfermline back into the top flight for the first since 2012 next term. Read more: 'I more or less agreed things with the owner towards the end of the season,' he said. 'Obviously, there was negotiations going on with the contract and that, but he was true to his word and I've been true to my word. We've got a good relationship, which is really important. 'The same is true of the people around the club, David [chairman and chief executive Cook] is obviously important in that aspect as is John [advisor Colquhoun]. We know there's a lot of work that needs to be done. That's a real challenge for me and one that I'm looking forward to. 'I don't like making predictions. But I would like us to be challenging around the top. That's going to take a lot when you consider that two Premiership teams have come down into the division. 'Allied to that, you've got Ayr United and Partick Thistle, Raith Rovers finished the season really strongly, Morton are consistent. So it's an attritional nutritional league. But we have to find the players that will give us the edge in games. If not, they will then be difficult to beat, but also consistent. We need more consistency in our performances.' (Image: Promotional) Lennon, who will retain Iain Brunskill, Kevin McDonald and Andy Collier on his backroom team, has been attempting to strengthen the Dunfermline squad since last season ended and is keen to bring in players who can give his team far more of a cutting edge in attack. 'We came in at a difficult time and some of the performances were good, solid,' he said. 'But we weren't spectacular by any means, so I want to change that. We only scored 28 goals in 36 games. That's something that has to be changed overall. 'The players were good, their attitude was good. We liked it, we enjoyed it. We enjoyed the challenge, but now this is a different challenge. We want to start looking up the table rather than over our shoulders. There's rebuilding work that needs to be done, but we want to do that incrementally.' Lennon added, 'We've been working away in the background on a number of players, it's a slow process. There are already players who have signed new contracts from last season. 'There are players who have obviously left the club and their own players have come back to their parent clubs. We've got a small platform to build from in terms of the squad of players so far. 'Recruitment is going to be important. Getting the right players in the right positions and obviously with the right mindset as well. There were things that didn't please me over the six or seven weeks I was there. We just want to change a little bit of the culture around the place as well. 'I want more attacking players. That's always been my way. The bottom line is football is an entertainment business and you want to entertain. I think sometimes it gets lost in all the analytics and the coaching side of things. 'We have good support here. They rock up. They love the club and they want to see a team perform. Yes, full of commitment, that's non-negotiable, but with quality as well.' Read more: Cook commented, "This is an important moment for Dunfermline. Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive. 'His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club. 'None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of James and Evan[co-owners Bord and Sofer]. It would be remiss of me not to highlight their passion for moving the club forward. 'We know the past few seasons have been challenging on and off the pitch. Entertainment has been in short supply, but our supporters have stuck with us through some difficult times. We aim to repay their loyal backing by competing at the right end of the Championship, giving them a team to be proud of.'
Glasgow Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Neil Lennon vows to entertain Dunfermline fans and targets Premiership
Celtic great Lennon helped the struggling Fife outfit to avoid relegation from the Championship after taking over from Michael Tidser for the final seven league games of the 2024/25 campaign. The Northern Irishman, who brought in former Parkhead centre-half Victor Wanyama and oversaw wins over Livingston and Queen's Park during his brief spell in charge, has now signed a two year deal. He acknowledged that, with both Ross County and St Johnstone both dropping down a division, that going up will be challenging. However, he remains determined to lead Dunfermline back into the top flight for the first since 2012 next term. Read more: 'I more or less agreed things with the owner towards the end of the season,' he said. 'Obviously, there was negotiations going on with the contract and that, but he was true to his word and I've been true to my word. We've got a good relationship, which is really important. 'The same is true of the people around the club, David [chairman and chief executive Cook] is obviously important in that aspect as is John [advisor Colquhoun]. We know there's a lot of work that needs to be done. That's a real challenge for me and one that I'm looking forward to. 'I don't like making predictions. But I would like us to be challenging around the top. That's going to take a lot when you consider that two Premiership teams have come down into the division. 'Allied to that, you've got Ayr United and Partick Thistle, Raith Rovers finished the season really strongly, Morton are consistent. So it's an attritional nutritional league. But we have to find the players that will give us the edge in games. If not, they will then be difficult to beat, but also consistent. We need more consistency in our performances.' (Image: Promotional) Lennon, who will retain Iain Brunskill, Kevin McDonald and Andy Collier on his backroom team, has been attempting to strengthen the Dunfermline squad since last season ended and is keen to bring in players who can give his team far more of a cutting edge in attack. 'We came in at a difficult time and some of the performances were good, solid,' he said. 'But we weren't spectacular by any means, so I want to change that. We only scored 28 goals in 36 games. That's something that has to be changed overall. 'The players were good, their attitude was good. We liked it, we enjoyed it. We enjoyed the challenge, but now this is a different challenge. We want to start looking up the table rather than over our shoulders. There's rebuilding work that needs to be done, but we want to do that incrementally.' Lennon added, 'We've been working away in the background on a number of players, it's a slow process. There are already players who have signed new contracts from last season. 'There are players who have obviously left the club and their own players have come back to their parent clubs. We've got a small platform to build from in terms of the squad of players so far. 'Recruitment is going to be important. Getting the right players in the right positions and obviously with the right mindset as well. There were things that didn't please me over the six or seven weeks I was there. We just want to change a little bit of the culture around the place as well. 'I want more attacking players. That's always been my way. The bottom line is football is an entertainment business and you want to entertain. I think sometimes it gets lost in all the analytics and the coaching side of things. 'We have good support here. They rock up. They love the club and they want to see a team perform. Yes, full of commitment, that's non-negotiable, but with quality as well.' Read more: Cook commented, "This is an important moment for Dunfermline. Confirming the appointment of Neil is a clear statement of our intent to build something meaningful and competitive. 'His leadership during the latter part of last season was outstanding, and he brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and presence that has already made a significant impact around the club. 'None of this would be possible without the ongoing support of James and Evan[co-owners Bord and Sofer]. It would be remiss of me not to highlight their passion for moving the club forward. 'We know the past few seasons have been challenging on and off the pitch. Entertainment has been in short supply, but our supporters have stuck with us through some difficult times. We aim to repay their loyal backing by competing at the right end of the Championship, giving them a team to be proud of.'
The Courier
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Figures behind Dunfermline Athletic's highest league attendances
Dunfermline Athletic have attracted East End Park attendances totalling more than 100,000 across a league season for the first time in nearly two decades. Despite battling against the drop for the majority of the campaign, the Pars' crowds in the Championship are the biggest for 18 years. Saturday's 5,504 for the goalless draw with Airdrie took the figures over the 100,000 mark for the first time since 2006/07. That year, the Fifers were in the Premier League and were boosted by the visit of the likes of Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers. Although the team ended up suffering relegation in May 2007, a total of 116,014 fans watched Dunfermline in action in their 19 home outings that term. This season, with one fewer game, the Pars were backed by crowds adding up to 100,358. The numbers were helped by bumper attendances of 7,595 and 8,558 against Falkirk and 6,993 and 6,812 against Raith Rovers, as well as 7,636 for the recent 'football for a fiver' initiative against Hamilton Accies. It left them with an average attendance of 5,575 – 1,222 more than Ross County's in the Premiership and just four short of matching St Johnstone. The figures are also up on last season's, despite a difficult campaign in which James McPake and Michael Tidser were both sacked and the team has struggled for goals and wins. Noticeably, without enjoying the benefit of matches against rivals Falkirk or Raith (but with the recent initiative against Hamilton), the average attendance under new boss Neil Lennon is up on the rest of the campaign. In the four games with the former Celtic and Hibernian manager at the helm, against Livingston, Accies, Partick Thistle and Airdrie, the average has been 5,929. Chief executive and chairman David Cook spoke of being 'blown away' by the backing for the 1-0 defeat to Hamilton earlier this month, which was thought to be the biggest home crowd for more than a decade. Officials will be confident the figures are an indication of the level of support that is there for the club should the team get it right on the pitch.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I miss it' - Lennon excited by Dunfermline challenge
Neil Lennon is relishing the task of keeping Dunfermline Athletic in the Championship after taking the manager's job on until at least the end of the season."I don't know how long this is going to be and we will take a view on it as we go along," said the 53-year-old former Celtic and Hibernian boss."There is not much that excites me at my age. But this does. So I am looking forward to it."With seven matches remaining, the Fife club occupy the relegation play-off spot, six points above bottom side Airdrieonians and two points behind Hamilton Academical - with a game in hand on succeeds Michael Tidser, who was dismissed after 60 days in charge with the Pars on a run of one win in eight ex-Celtic captain lasted just three months in his previous job, having been sacked by Romanian top-flight club Rapid Bucharest in August."Managing any club on a professional level is a privilege because there is so much competition for jobs now," he added. "Some people can pick and choose but others can't."I miss it. I have had other offers to come back, a few from abroad and I didn't want top go abroad again for personal reasons."This one is local-ish for me. My son also talked me into it. So these are all nice little things."The real thing is what happens at three o'clock on a Saturday when we have got to play hard professional football and endeavour our best to win the game."Gallagher Lennon, 19, currently on loan at Bonnyrigg Rose from St Mirren may have done some of the persuading but co-owner James Bord did most of the work to sway chairman [David Cook] and the owner made a very compelling argument for taking the job," said Lennon."There's an old adage from Sir Alex [Ferguson] where sometimes you pick your owners rather than the club. I think we've got a good one here."Further down the line he's got some really good aspirations for the future of the club. I wanted to align myself with that." Box office appointment brings optimism - analysis Neil Lennon is box-office material. All the way through his playing and managerial career he has made an was standing room only at the media conference, an indication of how big a draw he in his short time at Bolton, where he saved the club from relegation before they encountered administration, he remains highly thought of by lifted Hibs out of the Championship at the first time of asking and took them into walking through the front doors at East End Park you can sense an optimism that has been lacking may be the wake up call this club needs and one thing for sure is Lennon will give his all to get them on a solid footing once again and have the fans rolling back in their droves.
