Chilled-out St Mirren boss Danny Lennon banking on two-day break with players to fire his side to League Cup glory
12 Mar 2013 08:38

Scott McDermott

TEAM-BONDING session at St Andrews gets relaxed Buddies stars in perfect frame of mind to take on Hearts at Hampden.
A relaxed Danny Lennon shows off the League Cup trophy to kids at West Primary in Paisley A relaxed Danny Lennon shows off the League Cup trophy to kids at West Primary in Paisley
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A POP quiz and a snowball fight – what better way to prepare for a League Cup Final at Hampden?

St Mirren gaffer Danny Lennon took his players to St Andrews last night for a two-day retreat. And he believes that kind of relaxation could be key in beating Hearts on Sunday.

Make no mistake, Lennon does have a serious side to him that will kick in as the Buddies’ big day gets closer.

But as he geared up for the biggest 90 minutes of his managerial career so far, he says a couple of days worth of team bonding will do his side the world of good.

Lennon likes a joke or six – and that’s just at his weekly press conferences. So he’s urged his players to enjoy the build-up to their Hampden clash with the Jambos before they get down to business on Sunday.

He said: “We will train in St Andrews but we’ll also have stuff like quizzes, a couple of meals together and a game of golf is planned for Tuesday. The snow might put a dampener on that but if we can’t play we’ll just have a snowball fight instead.

“That kind of stuff can make or break what happens on Sunday. I really believe that. When you go away for a few days together as a team, it helps put a real importance on the occasion.

“It certainly did for me as a player. This gives them the opportunity to focus on the job in hand.

“And we want to keep it as low key as we possibly can. The next few days will give us the opportunity to have a bit of fun together as well as going to work in preparation for Sunday.”

At 43, Lennon will experience his first Hampden final on Sunday but hopes it’s the first of many. After learning his trade as a gaffer at Cowdenbeath, he’s excited at the prospect of lifting a trophy so early in his managerial career.

He’s ambitious and eventually wants to go up against the best managers in the game. But for now, Lennon wants his players to give everything they have as they attempt to win St Mirren’s first major piece of silverware in 26 years.

He said: “There’s no doubt that I want to pit my wits against the best. I want to work with top quality players and this is a stepping stone for every single one of us at St Mirren.

“But I’m in the right place at this moment in time. I’m learning every day, every minute, game by game. I’m happy with how the club has progressed since I arrived. We’ve now managed to get to a major cup final.

“I know we’ve fallen short of where we want to be in the league but I have to get the balance right and make sure youth players are coming through to make a massive contribution. That’s hugely important at this club.

“In terms of importance, this game on Sunday is right up there with any in my career. It’s early in my career so it’s fantastic to experience a cup final at 43.

“I hope there’s many more to come. We’ve never managed to get past the quarter-final stage before but we’ve done that now.

“We’ve won a semi-final, which has brought a lot of joy. But now that we’re in a final we have to go and win it. It’s pure and simple.”

Lennon should have lifted the League Cup as a player in 1994 when Raith Rovers stunned Scottish football by beating Celtic in the final at Ibrox. But an injury in training just days prior to the game prevented him from playing his part.

That’s why he feels for the likes of Saints defender Lee Mair, who will miss the game against Hearts with a stomach muscle injury.

And Lennon admits he’ll find it tough telling some of his players that they haven’t been picked for one of the biggest games in the club’s history.

He said: “I have a team picked in my mind already. We’ve got good quality in the squad but the hardest part will be telling guys they’re not playing.

“That’s the disappointing aspect of it but it’s the game we’re in. All the players have played a big part in getting us to Hampden, it’s been a wonderful journey.

"We’ve had a five-goal thriller against Ayr, a last-minute winner against Hamilton, the heart tremors of a penalty shootout against Aberdeen at Pittodrie – then scored three goals against Celtic at Hampden.

“So it’s been incredible and I hope there’s a few more twists and turns on Sunday.

“I’ve been to a couple of play-off finals as a player and was successful. I enjoyed those occasions.

“I got to the League Cup Final with Raith Rovers but missed out with five days to go due to a broken metatarsal. That was so disappointing.

“One of the young boys caught me in training. I didn’t know right away, there was a clatter and a minute later I heard it snap. I went to hospital and the X-ray confirmed I was out.

“As a professional, I got behind the team and became a supporter on the day. But the hardest part was being in the dressing room afterwards.

“The players were having their moment and you do feel for yourself. That’s why my heart goes out to Lee who doesn’t look like he’ll make it for us on Sunday.”

Taken from the Daily Record