Speculation on Sturrock for Hibernian job: 'Proving how good he is again'

 

Another manager gone, another rumour that Blues boss Paul Sturrock could be offered the position, and we should take it as a complimant, nobody is after fat boy Evans whatever he's doing with the creepies, and if he was, would he go?

 

What has happened though is that Scottish Premier League strugglers Hibernian are looking for their fifth manager in less than four years after sacking Colin Calderwood.

 

Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Dunfermline, which sparked impromptu protests against chairman Rod Petrie and the rest of the Easter Road board, proved the end for Calderwood after little more than a year in the post.

 

Hibs had been showing signs of improvement with a win at St Mirren Park followed by a draw at Celtic Park in their following SPL game, but the defeat by the Pars left them one point off the bottom, although they have three clubs below them.

 

Former Northampton and Nottingham Forest manager Calderwood took charge of 49 games after leaving his post as Newcastle assistant manager in October last year but guided Hibs to just 12 wins.

 

The club confirmed his exit in a statement on www.hibernianfc.co.uk: "Hibernian FC announced today that the board of directors had relieved Colin Calderwood of his duties as manager of the club. I would like to thank Colin for his time as manager. The board decided that it was in the club's best interests to find a new manager to take Hibernian forward."

 

Calderwood said he and his players had to take "whatever's thrown at us" following the weekend defeat, although he vowed to "come back and fight another day".

 

Not at Easter Road mate.

 

The 46-year-old also accepted the "majority" of the responsibility for the loss, although much of the fans' anger was vented towards Petrie.

 

The move comes two days before the club's AGM - last year John Hughes was fired on the morning of the meeting.

 

It follows a summer of speculation over Calderwood's future after both Birmingham and Nottingham Forest earmarked him as a potential assistant to their managers.

 

Hibs reportedly turned down a compensation offer of several hundred thousand pounds from Birmingham as former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton looked to be reunited with Calderwood at St Andrews.

 

Calderwood is the third manager in two-and-a-half years to fall foul of the Easter Road board's expectations.

 

Mixu Paatelainen, who took over after John Collins quit in December 2007, left despite securing two top-six finishes and John Hughes was sacked last year, months after leading Hibs into the Europa League with a fourth-place finish.

 

Hibs finished 10th last season and last month posted their first annual deficit (£900,000) in seven years to leave supporters questioning those in the boardroom.

 

Frank Dougan, the retired treasurer of the Hibs Supporters Association, felt Calderwood's departure was predictable ahead of the AGM.

 

Dougan, a fan of more than 40 years, said: "It is no surprise. You could have put money on that happening. We have gone through so many managers in the past eight or nine years but there is one man who is still there - Petrie. They had the chance to get money for him in the summer and didn't take it. Questions have to be asked of Petrie and the whole board and I, for one, will be asking them at the AGM. There is no point in appointing new managers every year, there is no continuity at the club. It is a disgrace."

 

The Edinburgh club, along with Hearts the great city is making itself a laughing stock outside the Fringe with these two clubs representing it, have announced that Billy Brown will take control of the club on an interim basis until they appoint their new manager.

 

Brown, who only joined the club in September, has been acting as Calderwood's assistant manager and will now be in full control over first-team affairs during the international break.

 

He could still be at the helm when Hibernian take on Kilmarnock on Saturday 19th November.

 

The club have confirmed that they have begun their search for a new manager, with executive director Scott Lindsay and managing director Fife Hyland leading the recruitment.

 

Former Hibernian midfielder and present Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill has been installed by bookmakers as favourite to be the next manager of the club with Luggy now up to second!: www.skybet.com

 

 

One of those 'things' must have been Swindon Town because that's where he ended up, but even so the interest was certainly there.

 

Luggy continued: "I am going to unwind and then have five or six days to chill then I will hope to be in a job quickly. I don't want a long rest. I need the job and I need to be involved in football. I am open to all suggestions and I am not going to knock any jobs on the head. But if I'm offered a job right away I won't go on holiday. I am a great believer in taking the first job you are offered if you feel it is the right one."

 

Blimey, Uncle Ron got on the phone at the right time then!

 

 

1875STEVE says on our sister site www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/: 'Now I know I say this everytime we need a new manager, but I'd love Sturrock to get it. Proving how good he is again, this time with Southend.'

 

Then again, according to this article, they fancy Jim Jeffries, with no mention of Luggy at all!: www.scotsman.com

 

Personally, I believe there are no legs in this one, I hope so anyway,  Sturrock has said himself that he has 'unfinished business' at Roots Hall, and that promotion this season would be a 'massive achievement', and with the Hibs board situation as it is why take the risk, unless the money was incredible, which is doubtful.

 

Though I suppose taking on Celtic and Rangers has some glamour attached over Macclesfield and Dagenham, but the next campaign could at least step that up a touch!