NEIL LENNON has claimed that Scott McDonald "pleaded" with him not to pull the plug on a move to Hibs and has accused the striker of talking 'nonsense' over his decision to re-sign with Motherwell.
Lennon says he was left 'livid' by McDonald's claim that initial talks were as far as a possible switch to Easter Road had gone, with the Australian insisting discussions had not reached the 'finer details'.
Instead, Lennon is adamant he expected the former Celtic marksman in last Wednesday to complete a medical and finalise a deal that had already been agreed following lengthy negotiations.
Read more: Neil Lennon and Scott McDonald at odds as striker opts for Motherwell return
After McDonald failed to show up and he was told the 32-year-old and his agent wanted to renegotiate their terms, Lennon ordered Hibs to pull the contract offer off the table and was left flabbergasted by comments the player made when speaking about his decision to stay at Fir Park.
Lennon said: "He's been really economical with the truth.
"First of all, we did not approach him. He approached Hibs, approached me, saying he wanted to come here and work with me.
"So, we put a package together and I spoke to him, that is right. Whilst not speaking verbally on the phone, there was contact by e-mail and text message and we made him an initial offer which I felt would fall short and it did.
"Graeme Mathie, the head of recruitment, was negotiating with him and it got to the stage where it had gone on for three or four days, so I rang his agent.
"I asked what it would take to get the deal done and he told me. I spoke to Leeann [Dempster] and she said, 'Yes we can do that'.
"That was last Tuesday and I got back to his representative and said we've agreed everything that you and the player want. I said I expected to see him at the training ground on Wednesday and he said, 'That's great'.
"I came in on Wednesday and there was no sign of him. Graeme told me he wanted to renegotiate and I said, 'No, deal’s off'. I told Leeann and the staff the same, I told the agent to tell the player the deal is off and that's the end of it.
"So you can imagine my surprise on the Friday when he comes out and says there was no interest from us and there wasn't an obvious deal on the table, which is totally contrary to what we had been working on for four or five days.
"He said that his heart was set on Motherwell. I don’t mind him gaining kudos with the Motherwell support, but certainly not at the expense of me and Hibs.
"On the Wednesday afternoon, I was having a meeting with my staff and he was ringing and texting, pleading to get the deal back on. Then he said to the public completely the opposite two days later.
"I didn’t like what I read on Friday, that was him covering his own back.
"We matched what he wanted, so there was a good offer on the table and there is only so far you can go. Either you want to come here or you don’t.
"I wouldn’t have to be speaking if I hadn’t read his comments on Friday. He could have handled it a lot better as far as I’m concerned.
"Basically, I got a text from him saying we must have got our wires crossed, but I certainly didn’t have my wires crossed."
Jordon Forster, meanwhile, is one player who's herat is set on Easter Road, after the 22-year-old yesterday agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Hibs having previously confessing he feared he had played his last game for the club.
The former Celtic trainee was farmed out on loan to Plymouth Argyle in January, frustrated by his lack of first-team outings under previous manager Alan Stubbs.
And, after being forced to watch Hibs' famous Scottish Cup triumph from his temporary flat 500 miles away, Forster admits the disappointment he felt at not being involved in such a memorable moment will spur him on in the coming campaign.
He said: "I'm delighted to sign the new contract. It's been a long time coming, it's been in the pipeline for a while, so I'm delighted to finally get it done and be able to concentrate on football.
"The new manager has come in and said it's a clean slate for everyone, so hopefully I'll be able to get some game-time this season and help get the team promoted.
"Every player has their own circumstances but I'm 22 and I need to try to make my name and do something.
"For the boys in there, they've all got their names in history for winning the Scottish Cup. They've all done something.
"For me, to get promoted is not only for the team but for a personal achievement.
"I was so happy for the boys [winning the cup], as friends, and for the manager and whatnot. It was brilliant to see.
"But, on the flip side, I would be lying to say I didn't sit for a couple of days down to see such an achievement with my own team that I wasn't there to experience. It was difficult.
"For the boys, it was unbelievable and some of the stories they've been telling me have been incredible. I was just delighted for the boys to put their names in the history books.
"But, at the same time, it was hard not be a part of it."
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