BEING able to take stock and recharge is a process which has taken longer for Danny Lennon than most since he last left St Mirren Park back in May.

 

After spending four years with the Paisley club, where he helped take them to their first-ever League Cup win while hauling Saints up to their highest league placing in a generation, the 45-year-old was told by the club's board that his contract was not to be renewed.

Then, little over 24 hours later, news broke that his assistant Tommy Craig was the man to replace him.

While most out-of-work managers would then use the coming days, weeks and months to catch breath and take a walk on the quiet side of life, Lennon spent the majority of his time pacing up and down a hospital corridor.

Just 10 days after leaving St Mirren, his 15-year-old son Kealin, fell seriously ill in Mexico with a bout of food poisoning, causing him to contract septic arthritis, leading to six weeks in hospital abroad and at home, as well as an operation.

Thankfully, his eldest is now on the road to recovery and dad's attention can begin to turn to the next pathway back into football management.

And, speaking exclusively to SportTimes, Lennon explains how the past seven months have put things firmly into perspective.

He said: "It's been my first break in management in six years and it's been great to spend so much time with the family, particularly in the summer. My oldest lad took poorly on holiday and that was a big focus for us and it's still ongoing.

"In management you sacrifice so much and spend so much time away from the ones you love. It's not a 9-5 job and so it's nice to be at home, especially for Kealin.

"It was difficult, especially given what had happened at St Mirren not long before. But sometimes I think these things are set out for you and it's allowed me to certainly be in the right place at the right time for my family."

Lennon's love for the game has meant, quite understandably, standing idle on the sidelines has not sat well with him over the last few months.

While he has teamed up with his former Cowdenbeath chairman Jim Methven over a property development business, it is constructing a future in the Scottish top flight that he has real aspirations for.

Despite the complications in his personal life, Lennon admits he is raring to go and get back in at the highest level, and do what he does best.

"I would say hand-on-heart after four months I felt I was ready to get back in again," said the former Buddies boss. "Everything was right in the family, I felt recharged and focused and more importantly I was getting under my wife Yvonne's feet!

"I find watching games difficult. You are only keeping yourself up to date. It gets you frustrated because you can't do anything about it sitting in a stand or watching it on television.

"It's all about making sure I'm ready for the next opportunity when it comes up. I certainly think I'm a better manager now than I ever have been, and I'd certainly welcome anything that comes my way.

"I'm ambitious, I think I tick all the boxes for a club looking for a new manager, and I believe my track record shows I can get teams promoted, established in the top flight, winning trophies while being able to bring on young talent."

He added: "I think you see it again and again that managers can be a victim of their own success.

"I managed to get St Mirren their first trophy and highest league finish in almost 30 years. People think the club should continue that progression and get further up the league, but nothing is automatic.

"Experts say it takes five years to change a culture somewhere and I only got four. Given more time I think I could have built on those foundations, but some people decided that wasn't enough progress.

"I just need someone to give me the chance to put my heart and soul into their club."