‘Shut up!’ Hibs head coach Neil Lennon takes swipe at critics of ’emergency’ loans after Efe Ambrose signing

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

NEIL LENNON has told critics of Hibs’ transfer business to “shut up” and insists anyone that has a problem with their signing of Efe Ambrose should take it up with the SFA.

The capital club have swooped to sign the Nigerian internationalist on an ‘emergency loan’ from Celtic after injuries to Paul Hanlon, Liam Fontaine and Jordon Forster decimated the centre of their defence.

It is the second time the Hibees have utilised the rule which allows Championship sides to loan players from a Premiership club out-with a transfer window, having brought in Kris Commons to good effect from the Hoops on a 28-day deal in December.

And that has led to some fans of their league rivals accusing the runaway leaders of exploiting a loophole – prompting a no-nonsense reaction from the fiery Lennon. He even appeared to have a cheeky pop at city rivals Hearts following their January spending spree.

He shot back: “I know some people will moan, I know that! I could moan about other clubs spending too much money, going into debt, administration and stuff like that, but I don’t.

“I could moan about clubs going out and buying nine players in the January transfer window, but I don’t. We could have done that, but we might have stretched ourselves.

“This club runs the way we think is the right way, we knew the emergency window was an option. If it was taken away, then we wouldn’t use it. But it is there to be used, we’ve used it.

“We haven’t broken a single rule or law. If people are unhappy about it, then they can write to the SFA and ask them to scrap the rule. It’s an advantage to anyone that wants to use it – so shut up, just shut up.”