Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has signed ex-Hibs and Sevco player Brandon Barker for Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus as he continues his rebuild. Lennon had Barker before at Hibs and has reunited with the pacey attacker for his project in the Cypriot league.
Barker was once a member of the famed City Group himself, joining Hibernian on a temporary basis a few years ago which heralded some success. The player and Martin Boyle were a nuissance for teams in the SPFL alongside teammate and multi-million pound midfielder John McGinn. They even gave Brendan Rodgers Celtic side food for thought on several occasions during the Northern Irishman’s spell in Scotland.
Barker was then taken in by theRangers manager Steven Gerrard after his loan move at the Leith side concluded. During a period when the mob across the city were throwing enough excrement at the wall in the hopes that some stuck, Barker was another who was stockpiled into the vastly over-inflated club. His time there didn’t leave much of an impression as he struggled badly for game time – eventually falling out of the picture completely.
Now he has a chance to rebuild his reputation and regain confidence under a manager who got a decent tune out of the wide man. As Lennon looks to also repair the damage done to his flailing reputation in Glasgow, it looks like he will have company in this respect. Hopefully both men find what they are looking for in the heat of the Mediterranean.
On the official website, Omonia said:
“We have reached an agreement in principle for a two-year contract with the 25-year-old English winger, Brandon Barker, who has been playing for Reading FC in recent months.
“The footballer emerged from the infrastructure departments of Manchester City making his debut in the first team in 2016, while he also participated in the UEFA Youth League. He also played for NAC Breda on loan from Citizens, Hibernian FC and Rangers FC, with which he played in the UEFA Europa League groups. He also wore the coat of arms of his homeland with participation in small national teams of England.
“Brandon Barker will soon be in Cyprus to finalize the deal.”
Paul Gillespie
