Neil Lennon set for Rapid Bucharest axe after just 3 months as he pays price for miserable Romania run

Former Celtic and Hibs boss Neil Lennon is set to be sacked at Rapid Bucharest after just three months in charge and less than a week after he was handed a vote of confidence.

The Irishman only took over in Romania back in May but has had six games without a win and the Bucharest side are set to pull the trigger, according to reports, after Lennon had said he had no intention of resigning following a derby draw against city rivals Dinamo at the weekend. And yet last week president Viorel Moldovan said: “We trust Neil. He is very professional. I have seen stories about the players not trusting Neil, but they are not true. I had discussions with Neil and the players.

“The problem at the moment is that the players haven't managed to move what they are showing in training into games yet. Look at last season, we went 15 games without a win. We have to get rid of that mentality.” It’s a blow to Lennon who had come close to becoming manager of Republic of Ireland and returned to the dug-out in Bucharest after an 18-month hiatus having previously led Omonia Nicosia to Cypriot Cup success in 2022.

At the time of his appointment, Rapid Bucharest co-owner Dan Sucu reckoned the arrival of Lennon would bring new discipline to the team. He said: "He comes from a soccer culture, the Anglo-Saxon one, based on seriousness, work, success. culture where decisions, once made, are no longer commented on or negotiated, but simply implemented.”

But recently Lennon was forced to deny claims he urinated on the pitch during a Rapid Bucharest training session, describing the allegations as "completely fabricated”. Reports in Romania claimed the Celtic hero had turned up to training in a "bad state" before proceeding to relieve himself on the