Celtic hero Neil Lennon is in a major row with the SPFL as Dunfermline manager.
And it’s fair to say that the Pars couldn’t have anyone more suitable leading them into battle.
Lennon has guided Dunfermline into the Scottish Cup quarter-final, where they will face Hibs – but after their postponed Scottish Championship fixture was rearranged to be played just six days later, their preparation for the tie will be hectic.
The ex-Celtic boss is furious as a result, blasting the SPFL as an ‘absolute disgrace’ in the latest in a long list of disputes he has been involved in.
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Celtic hero Neil Lennon’s response to SPFL decision
Explaining the situation, Lennon said via The Courier: “Last week, we got the call from the League to tell us that we have to play the Thistle game on Tuesday, which is a disgrace.
“It’s an absolute disgrace. It could have been put back a few weeks or into next month.
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“Now, we’re going into the Aberdeen game, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. We’re getting no favours in that aspect and, for me, that was unnecessary.
“We’re getting no help. We’ve asked for help, and we’re not getting it. They’ve come up with some half-baked excuses about replays or international breaks.
“So, what we’re doing is congesting all these games into a two or three-week period, in the most important period of our season, with a quarter-final looming in the background as well, against top opposition.
“It’s going to be really demanding on the squad. I’ve got to think about the players’ welfare as well and it is not fair on supporters.
“We got a call and then we have to arrange it for a Tuesday night, [with the call coming] just a few days before that. We’re told in the end that’s the way it’s going to be.
“For me, it’s grossly unfair – on the club, on the fans, and on the playing staff.”
Lennon won four Scottish Cups across his two spells as Celtic boss.
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Neil Lennon’s four Scottish Cup wins as Celtic manager
The Scottish Cup was the first trophy that Lennon won as Celtic manager, with a 3-0 win over Motherwell in the final at Hampden in 2011.
Two years later, he completed a league and cup double with a win by the same scoreline (but with much better weather) against Hibs.
His third win saw his second spell go from being interim to permanent. After Odsonne Edouard’s late winner against Hearts, the story goes that Peter Lawwell offered Lennon the job in the shower area.
His final one was bittersweet. After a wild 3-3 draw with Hearts, Celtic won on penalties to secure a historic quadruple – but this was a final that had been delayed to December of the following season due to Covid, and no fans were present at the game.
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