Hibs start search for director of football as Porteous heads for exit
HIBERNIAN are set to appoint a director of football “to improve the club’s sporting performance”.
The Easter Road club say the process has begun to bring in an “experienced candidate” to work alongside chief executive Ben Kensell and manager Lee Johnson.
A club statement explained: “When appointed, the new director of football will be responsible for all areas of football support at the Hibernian Training Centre, including the academy and development, analysis, football administration, medical, player care, recruitment, and strength and conditioning.”
Chief executive Kensell said: “I’m excited that we can bring in a director of football and believe it will considerably benefit the club.
“I have worked with directors of football before, so I have a full understanding of the difference they can make.
“This decision was made following a thorough review that has taken place over the last few months.
“Ultimately the director of football should be there to support the manager,” he added. “The director of football should work hand- in- hand with Lee and a lot of the staff at HTC, whilst reviewing and improving.
“It’s about support at the end of the day and about football knowledge, nous and driving a football strategy that makes us better – that’s all we want at this club from the staff to the fans to the board.”
Kensell also revealed Ryan Porteous is set to leave the club this month having turned down a contract offer with his current deal up in the summer.
“Ryan is likely to leave the club in this window,” confirmed the chief executive. “There are two, three, several options that Ryan could choose from.
“But ultimately that will come down to Ryan. We are looking to extract the best deal for the club whilst also looking for the best deal possible for Ryan.”
Meanwhile, Lee Johnson has vowed to keep ‘ stretching’ and ‘ pushing’ his Hibernian squad in a bid to bring success back to Easter Road.
Johnson relieved some of the building pressure on his shoulders with his side’s 3- 2 triumph over Motherwell on Sunday.
Johnson said: “After a tough week, in terms of all of us taking a bit of a bashing, it was really nice to come together at the end and celebrate the win in the dressing room.
“I think that sets us up. Obviously last week’s defeat [ against Hearts] is still hurts. But the best thing you can do is respond, and we responded.
“[ Criticism] is par for the course being a football manager, I think. You live life on the edge. You make every decision like you’re going to be there forever – and knowing you could be gone tomorrow.
“But I love it here and I really enjoy the players. And, yes, I’m going to drive them on. I don’t apologise for stretching people and pushing them to perform their best.”