Neil Lennon: I'd love to have a crack at Ireland job

Neil Lennon has said he would "love to have a crack" at the Republic of Ireland job in the wake of Stephen Kenny's departure.

Lennon is the bookies' favourite to succeed Kenny. The Northern Irishman - who has a long club managerial career behind him, including two spells at Celtic - has been out of work since being sacked by Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia just over a year ago.

Lennon was on Premier Sports' panel for their coverage of Saturday's Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Chelsea.

When asked about his links to the Ireland post, he said: "It's a fabulous job. It is Ireland, and it means so much to me as a person. If the opportunity came along, I would love to have the conversation. It's an opportunity that doesn't come around too often.

"I have achieved a lot in my career in terms of my ambitions - playing for Celtic, managing Celtic. Managing Ireland would be another ambition of mine.

"There will be a plethora of candidates, and there will be a process to go through. But I'd love to have a chat or a crack at it.

"Normally, when you're going for a club job, your representatives would send in your CV or make it known you’re interested. I don’t know what the process would be for the FAI. I’m sure they have been thinking about it, and I am sure they will do a shortlist and I am hoping to be on it."

Lennon is the third man to publicly air his desire to take on the role.

Earlier this week, Steve Bruce said: "Once the manager position is free, then they [FAI] can give me a call."

Greece boss Gus Poyet has twice batted his eyelashes at the FAI.

"We used to say when you're a player, six months left on your contract and you can start looking for a job," he said three weeks ago.

"Now, that is a possibility that they