Reunion with Neil Lennon is a fairy story, says Victor Wanyama as pair search to save lots of Dunfermline from relegation

The prospect of a seasoned operator like Victor Wanyama mixing it in the blood and thunder of the Scottish Championship would once have seemed unthinkable.

After all, this is a midfielder who was so effective in his heyday that Mauricio Pochettino insisted on signing him twice, first for Southampton and then for Tottenham.

Yet here was the ex-Celtic star at East End Park, describing his return to Scottish football after a 12-year absence as ‘a fairy tale’ and a ‘no-brainer’.

Largely, of course, because he couldn’t resist an SOS call from his former Parkhead boss Neil Lennon, now in charge of Dunfermline, nor the prospect of a thrilling debut against old colleague Scott Brown’s Ayr United.

However, the 33-year-old Kenyan international insisted that he was also struck by the ambition of the Pars’ new owners in seeking to transform the team from Championship strugglers into something far more substantial.

One that could maybe see the club eventually return to the top flight Wanyama once graced with Celtic between 2011 and 2013.

Victor Wanyama holds up his Dunfermline shirt after joining the East End Park side

Wanyama says it’s like ‘a fairy tale’ to be reunited with his former Celtic boss Neil Lennon

Wanyama was all smiles when he appeared at his unveiling at East End Park on Thursday

Las Vegas-based James Bord and Evan Sofer recently purchased a majority stake in Dunfermlne and Lennon has spoken enthusiastically about the approach of the former to analytics and his plans for the club.

‘The manager has played a big part in my career and he asked me to come and help him out,’ revealed Wanyama at his unveiling.

‘I said: “Why not”? He has played a big part in my career so I said I would come down and give him a hand.

‘Also, I spoke to the owner. He is very ambitious. When he told me what he wants and what his intentions are for the cub, it was a no-brainer. He is so passionate about the game and he wants to take the club to the next level.’

First, though, comes a tense relegation battle in this tough and cut-throat environment, with Lennon and Wanyama tasked with moving the club away from the danger zone between now and the end of the season.

‘I had some other places to go but, once Neil phoned me, then I couldn’t think of anything else,’ reasoned Wanyama, who recently ended a four-year stay with Major League Soccer side Montreal, where he  played alongside Celtic full back Alistair Johnston.

He will see another familiar face at Somerset Park on Saturday when he is set to make his debut against an Ayr side managed by his former Parkhead team-mate Brown.

“I haven’t spoken to him (Brown) but I will get in touch with him,’ smiled Wanyama. ‘I met him and we had a discussion when I went down to Celtic to watch a game.

Wanyama was an all-action midfielder for the Parkhead side between 2011 and 2013

The Kenyan went on to star for Southampton and then Spurs, above, in the Premier League

Now Wanyama is at Dunfermline and is determined to keep them in the Championship

‘It’s going to be good playing against him as a manager. Of course, me and the gaffer are teaming up against him so it’s going to be nice. I feel like it’s a little bit of a fairytale, I am looking forward to it.’

Lennon clearly feels that Wanyama can bring all his vast experience to bear in this new kind of battle.

The Kenyan first signed for the Northern Irishman in 2011 when he moved from Belgian side Beerschot and was a key player for Celtic, scoring in the famous Champions League win over Barcelona before earning a £12.5million move to the Premier League with Southampton.

An unused Tottenham substitute in the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool, he says he understands why many will see this move to the Scottish second tier as a surprise.

‘Wherever I’ve been, it has been always challenging myself, trying to get the club into the next level,’ he admitted.

‘This is a challenge that I’m looking forward to accomplishing. I’m ready and hopefully, as a team, we can do it.

‘I’ve been around, I’ve learned. I understand Scottish football and there’s not much of a change. So we’ll be good, we’ll adjust with whatever is thrown my way.’

Wanyama’s deal lasts until the end of the season but, like Lennon, he has not ruled out extending his stay if things go well.

‘My intention is to help the club stay in the league and then, after that, we can sit down and discuss again,’ he said.