Neil Lennon reveals the one demand he’s made of Celtic hero Scott Brown before dugout duel

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Neil Lennon is back in management with Dunfermline and is preparing to do battle with an old pal.

Lennon accepted Dunfermline’s offer on a short-term contract this week to become their new boss as he explained how the vision of the club’s owner won him over.

It will be a difficult job for the Celtic hero who has won titles with the Hoops as well as Hibs in the Championship and the Cypriot Cup during his time at Omonia. The Pars sit second bottom of the second tier with just seven games to go and safety has to be Lennon’s priority early doors.

But he does not have the easiest start as he goes toe-to-toe in the dugout with former captain and teammate Scott Brown.

• READ MORE: Neil Lennon’s managerial record, stats and trophies won as Celtic legend handed Dunfermline job

Neil Lennon has issued one demand of Scott Brown

Brown has done a fantastic job with Ayr United since he took over and the club sit third in the table having mounted a challenge for the lead until a recent dip.

And with ex-Celtic head coach Lenny heading to Somerset Park on his first matchday, the Irishman has already laid out his demands to his former protegé.

“I’ve told him already to make sure he’s got a nice bottle of red in the office afterwards!” Lennon chuckled as he met the press for the first time in Fife.

“He’s done a fantastic job, so it’s a really tough opening game and it’s not about me and him. He’ll tell you that. He’ll have his focus and I’ll have mine.”

Lennon has always been an ambitious manager and his thoughts have already moved onto winning trophies as Dunfermline’s gaffer down the line.

Of course he is measured and pragmatic enough to stop short of guaranteeing that success, but he has put it out there into the world.

What Celtic hero Neil Lennon ‘won’t promise’ as Dunfermline boss

For Lennon it was important to let his new squad of players – and the fans – know his long-term goals at the club. But he knows it ll take time considering where he takes the club from.

“I said I want to bring exciting football to the club but I want to clarify. I didn’t promise it. I want to bring silverware as well but I’m not promising it!

“If we go out against Ayr on Saturday and the football’s rubbish, people will say I promised it. So I want to clarify that because that’s been the narrative. Evidently, down the line, that’s what I want to do.

“We’re in a difficult position. We have seven games to go and we want to win as many as we can.”