Hibs look long shot for happy outcome

HIBERNIAN have become one of the season’s great stories. A page turner with some unpredictable twists. A revelation in the first half of the season, it barely seems like yesterday that Alan Stubbs was the hot tip to be the next manager of Celtic. A run of four points from their last 24 in the Championship has changed things. In all competitions, Hibs have now lost six, drawn three and won just two of their last 11 games. They have become a complete and utter enigma. And no one has the foggiest idea what the hell is going on. In the aftermath of a Scottish Cup replay win over city rivals Hearts, Stubbs was all but granted the freedom of Leith. The morning after you wouldn’t have laid a fiver on him being manager of Hibs next season. The expectation was that Celtic or some English Championship club or other might come along and make him an offer he couldn’t refuse. By this week, the former Everton coach had become the recipient of something dangerously reminiscent of a vote of confidence. ‘We’re in here for the long game,’ said chief executive Leanne Dempster. ‘Alan and our team and our coaches have not become poor managers overnight.’ There is logic, calm and common sense in this thinking. But still the question goes; just how long can Hibs wait for the holy grail of a return to the Premiership? It’s not as if the Easter Road board have baulked at paying for players. John McGinn and Liam Henderson came in. Anthony Stokes was a big statement when he signed in January. But former Hibs striker Tam McManus is just one observer who thinks the Irishman’s partnership with Jason Cummings hasn’t worked. Let’s not write Hibs off yet. They could still go up via the play-offs. But Nick Leeson would baulk on punting cash their way after the late collapse against Falkirk in midweek. In a vox-pop of Scottish football fans right now, Peter Houston’s team would be favourites to join Rangers in the Premiership next season. If they are right, Hibs are staring at the unthinkable. An £800,000 loss and a third season in a Championship featuring Dundee United, St Mirren, Dunfermline and Falkirk or Kilmarnock. It’s a cliffhanger and no mistake. But no one’s laying odds on a happy ending.