New Hibs boss determined to keep his nose clean as game goes berserk
BY EUAN McLEAN PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM feels like the guy who just turned up at house party to find everyone five vodkas down and already fighting among themselves.
Welcome to Scottish football. A place at war with itself, plagued by more squabbles and petty politics than Christmas dinner at the in-laws.
And wisely the new Hibs manager has chosen the same tactic as many an unsuspecting house caller – smile sweetly and try not to get involved in the unfolding stramash.
So while the SFA, their compliance officer and army of referees try to thrash out a peace accord with disgruntled clubs, the Englishman is not interested, with more than enough other stuff to concern him.
His to-do list includes finding a house with a wifi signal as the shortterm fix he’s been staying in since arriving last week in Edinburgh might as well be a cave.
And swotting up on tomorrow night’s opponents Dundee where he’ll take his new squad he’s still getting to know.
Still, at least the atmosphere in his dressing room is harmonious enough – unlike the rest of Scottish football’s madhouse, whose door he just came knocking.
Presented with that house party analogy, Heckingbottom smiled and said: “Yeah. That’s exactly what it is.
“And these are the type of things you can lose your focus with if you’re not careful. You get
PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM