NEIL Lennon’s first real taste of the Bolton public outside the confines of the Macron Stadium has made him hungry for more.

After dropping by to surprise a nine-year-old footballer from Astley Bridge who had applied for his job on Wednesday night, the Wanderers boss found himself in the middle of a much busier affair 24 hours later, helping out with the town’s Christmas light switch-on.

Lennon admits he is starting to feel at home in a town which has readily accepted him as one of their own.

And in a statement that will be music to the ears of those who have criticised previous managerial regimes for maintaining a safe distance from the Bolton public, the Northern Irishman makes no secret of the fact he is looking to do more in the community.

“That’s the plan,” he told The Bolton News. “Thursday was my first time out in Bolton town centre and I really enjoyed it, it was a nice night and I thought they did the whole thing really well.

“The Town Hall is beautiful. People were great and I was made to feel very welcome by everyone there.

“It is important for players and myself to go out into community, and do a lot of charitable stuff as well, when they can.”

In a week when near-neighbours Wigan Athletic have attracted the worst possible publicity, seeing Wanderers being portrayed in such a good light has been even more rewarding.

It all started with Lennon’s first official public venture at Thornleigh Roman Catholic School on Wednesday night, where he dropped in unannounced on Thomas Fielding, a young man who had applied for the Bolton job after Dougie Freedman left the club last month.

He stayed for more than an hour with the Oxford Grove Under-10s signing autographs and watching the youngsters’ training session.

The story was carried nationally and internationally, much to the Northern Irishman’s delight.

“It turned out to be a really good piece,” he smiled. “I didn't think it would be as big as it has become.

“Thomas is a superstar now. He is on everything. He will be on Parkinson next week. It is a good news story.”

Lennon’s main task is clearly to get results on the pitch but there are suggestions early in his tenure that re-establishing a damaged relationship between the club and the town are also high on the agenda.

The discontent felt during recent months was a major issue on his arrival just over a month ago, but the feel-good factor around the town ever since has been difficult to miss.

“It is good for the town and profile of club,” he said of efforts to get the players out into the community on a more regular basis. “More importantly is about the connection between the two.

“I am not talking about sending players out twice a week, every week. But it is important the players get a connection with the people around them.

“As long as it is not overcooked – but I do think we can do more.”