Lennon out of work since leaving Hibernian by mutual consent in January
Friday 15 February 2019 10:34, UK
Neil Lennon is relishing time away from management following his surprise departure from Hibernian but says he would love to get back into coaching next season.
Lennon left Hibs by mutual consent at the end of January, just days after he was suspended by the club following an exchange with club staff.
The acrimonious exit has not dampened Lennon's thirst for football, though, with the 47-year-old confident he can still operate at the highest level.
"I'm enjoying the time off," he told The Debate. "We're in a routine when we're coaching. We're institutionalised, it's like being in the army, when you come into civilian life it knocks you off kilter a little bit.
"Ideally, I'd love to get back into management but it's difficult now, and every job is precious - Sol Campbell is a Macclesfield and Paul Scholes it as Oldham. Hopefully an opportunity will come up on the horizon.
"At the minute I'm enjoying a bit of time out. I'm appreciative of what I had a Hibs, Bolton and Celtic.
"I feel at 47 that I've still got the energy to do it, I'm still young enough. I don't think it's the right time to go back straight away but I will maybe have a look at things next season."
The majority of Lennon's nine-year managerial career has been spent in Scotland with Celtic and Hibs, with the Northern Irishman winning five major honours during his time at Parkhead.
That has prompted Lennon to set his sights on positions across the border in England or further afield.
"There's not much in Scotland now for me to do, I don't think, so you look over the border or abroad," he added.
"I've had European experience with Hibs, believe it or not, and obviously the four years at Celtic, they were great experiences that I have on my CV.
"Ideally, back to England would be fantastic but if an opportunity came up that I really fancied, even abroad, that is something I would look at.
"If there's not an opportunity to work at the level I would like to work at then maybe I'd look at America, somewhere in Europe, the Middle East, Far East or Australia.
"I'm not desperate, I love the game, the management, the coaching. It's never dull, the highs are high, the lows are low, there are no grey areas in management."
