Source: Team_Talk
JJ impressed by Lennon impact
eil Lennon has made it almost impossible for Celtic not to appoint him their next manager, according to Hearts boss Jim Jefferies.[LNB] Jefferies will attempt to become the first Scottish Premier League coach to beat Lennon when the two sides meet on the final day of the season at Tynecastle on Sunday.[LNB]Celtic's interim boss has won all seven of his SPL games since Tony Mowbray was sacked at the end of March, with the one black mark against him - admittedly one of massive significance - being a shock Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County.[LNB]But the vastly-experienced Jefferies has been hugely impressed with managerial rookie Lennon, saying: "He's done fantastically well.[LNB]"Alright, they had that disaster against Ross County but he's won all his other matches.[LNB]"He's got the players playing for him.[LNB]"They'll be wanting to finish on a high, maybe to try to get Neil the job.[LNB]"He's virtually sealed getting the job; it would be difficult to give it to anybody else."[LNB]Jefferies has long seen managerial potential in Lennon, who he watched bark out orders on the playing field while the 38-year-old was captain at Parkhead.[LNB]He added: "I've met him a couple of times on holiday.[LNB]"We were in Portugal a couple of years ago and he's a great lad - very down to earth, and you can see he's a winner.[LNB]"He brings that to the squad.[LNB]"He's got great enthusiasm and there have definitely been players responding to him."[LNB]The same could be said for Jefferies, whose January return to Tynecastle sparked a revival which almost saw them snatch a Europa League spot.[LNB]But Wednesday night's goalless game with Dundee United coupled with Hibernian's crazy 6-6 draw at Motherwell has ended those hopes barring a massive goal difference swing.[LNB]"It's mathematically possible," joked Jefferies, whose side are three points and 11 goals worse off than Hibs.[LNB]"After seeing the result the other night anything's possible, I suppose.[LNB]"But it looks a tall order."[LNB]Whatever the outcome on Sunday, Jefferies will turn his attention to building a squad for next season, with the likes of captain Michael Stewart, Jose Goncalves and Laryea Kingston all set to leave when their contracts expire.[LNB]"It's going to be a busy summer," said the Hearts boss, who has also warned it would take a "huge" offer to prise Lee Wallace from Tynecastle.[LNB]"Even when I get my holidays, the phone will be on all the time.[LNB]"We've got some decisions to make."[LNB]Jefferies rubbished reports he had made a move for Aberdeen captain Mark Kerr, though he revealed he had approached one unnamed player back in January and hopes to sign him this summer.[LNB]Denying that man was Kevin Kyle, he added: "There's a lot of things we'd like to do."[LNB]"Sometimes you cannot always get to do them.[LNB]"We'll work hard in the summer to get the squad right for when we report back."[LNB]Winger David Templeton has welcomed the extra competition new faces would bring.[LNB]The 21-year-old is still revelling in last weekend's Edinburgh derby victory, which saw him set up a last-gasp winner for David Obua.[LNB]But he admits his first man-of-the-match award in a Hearts jersey took him by surprise, even though he felt his performance was his best for the club.[LNB]"I didn't think I'd played that well," he added.[LNB]"I thought Lee Wallace was brilliant that day.[LNB]"But when everybody said it to me and I watched it again, I thought I did have quite a good game."
