Neil Lennon 'fails' to make Hibs 5 man shortlist as former Celtic boss considers other management return options

Neil Lennon isn't believed to have made it to the final stage for the Hibs job as the Easter Road club prefer other options - with Nick Montgomery still the hot favourite.

Lennon was hotly tipped to replace Lee Johnson for a second spell in the hotseat and initial reports suggested he was being considered, with Lennon admitting in the media he was open to a conversation. Record Sport have since revealed Central Coast Mariners boss Nick Montgomery is the man Hibs want and he's agreed personal terms on a move that will cost Leith chiefs £50,000 in compensation. They want to make that appointment during the international break, but it's not believed that is on the verge just yet.

Other options are still on the table but according to The Scotsman, Lennon is not one of them. It's claimed he is not on the final five-man shortlist - which is widely believed to include St Mirren's Stephen Robinson, Ross County's Malky Mackay and Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes.

It leaves the Irishman looking for other options and he admits a move onto the international scene is something he would consider - even if it's not his "ideal" scenario. Speaking to BestWallet he said: “It would all depend on the country and what the project was. I do prefer to work day-to-day it’s not something I would say no to.

“I don’t know if I’m old enough! Seriously, there are a lot of younger men taking national team jobs these days. For some guys it’s just a good fit. I look at Steve Clarke and he’s taken to it like a duck to water and he’s having a great time at the minute.

“I’ve spoken to Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney about it before and they have good insight into what it all entails. So, I wouldn’t dismiss it, but in an ideal world I would like to come back