Neil Lennon reveals Aberdeen and Hibs talks after rejecting SPFL offers for 'far better' Rapid Bucharest option

Neil Lennon says he was offered multiple jobs in Scotland before moving to Romania.

And he lifted the bonnet on 'brief conversations' with Hibs and Aberdeen. The former Easter Road and Celtic boss was out of work for 18 months between his sacking by Omonia Nicosia and his arrival at Rapid Bucharest last month. The interim period saw him linked with virtually every Premiership vacancy that came up - most prominently at Pittodrie and Easter Road, with Lennon admitting interest in both cases.

Neither came to much though and he accepted a moneyspinning move to Romania for his latest challenge in his increasingly nomadic managerial career. And he admits it was something he couldn't say no to - because it's a 'far better' option than any of the serious offers in Scotland. He told the BBC: "I was really impressed by what he had to say. I've since been to Bucharest, looking at the stadium and the facilities. It's a club that's on the up. All of Romanian football is on the up at the moment. The national team are at the Euros.

"The infrastructure is improving all the time, there are good coaches and good competition. On paper, you think 'no', but in practice when you go and look you think, 'this has huge potential'. I've done a lot in Scotland and this is an opportunity to broaden my horizons. I loved my time in Cyprus and I'm hoping I love it in Romania.

"I was offered jobs (in Scotland) last summer and I turned them down because they weren't right I felt I could work at a better level. This is a far better option.

"I had a brief conversation with Aberdeen in March or April, but that's all it was. With Hibs there was a lot of speculation, which is flattering. Again, a brief conversation but nothing materialised.

"It's a different club from the one I worked at. Different owners. Would I have gone back? I don't know. I loved my time there but it's never the same the second time. I learned that at Celtic."

Meanwhile Lennon has been given the all-clear to manage Rapid after the Romanian FA demanded to check his coaching certificates. The former Celtic boss was unveiled as manager in the middle of last month and has already signed his first player this week when he captured Luka Gojkovic, captain of FK Javor from Serbia.

But the club were stunned to hear that the Romanian FA chiefs would not give Lennon the go-ahead to take charge of matches in the country until he provided them with his coaching credentials. And the Northern Irishman had to get proof he had completed his UEFA Pro Licence badges.

Romanian League chief Lucian Burchel said: "The necessary steps were taken and Neil Lennon has been approved now to coach in the league with Rapid Bucharest.

"If he hadn't completed the licence, he wouldn't have been able to coach here. But his qualifications are now verified and he can coach. It's the same with every potential manager in this country."