‘Managers are always under pressure – why am I different?’
Montgomery unfazed by suggestion he has five games to save his Hibs job
FOR a man on the receiving end of a decidedly frosty assessment from his superiors less than a fortnight ago, Nick Montgomery doesn’t present as feeling the walls close in. He did not seem overly fazed by the gravity of the passage from Hibs’ open letter to fans which described a failure to make the Premiership’s top six as “simply unacceptable”. He brushed off the notion it had increased the pressure on his shoulders without shirking the fact that he and his players have not lived up to expectations, insisting that they can and will be better. He let out a wry smile at the suggestion he now has five games to save his job, contending that every manager in Scotland is fighting to retain their position on a weekly basis, and that it simply comes with the territory.
He is steadfast in his belief at being able to turn a troubling situation around, but realises he must find a way to make a disgruntled fanbase somehow share in that again.
And, while supporters may suggest this has been his puzzle to solve, points out that the fragility which has cost Hibs so dearly this season predates his arrival.
“That statement was released and there was a lot of emotion in that first week,” said Montgomery, ahead of today’s visit to McDiarmid Park. “As a manager you are always under pressure and I don’t see why I am any different than anyone else.
“Ultimately I’ve had a lot of support from the board throughout my time at the club and a lot of support and understanding in the situation I inherited also, and understanding about the squad the fact we had a lot of contracted players that haven’t contributed to the team this season and may never contribute. Some may come back and contribute. There are a lot of factors that I can’t control but what I and the players could have controlled was winning the games where we were ahead and we didn’t concede late goals.
“I think there is also an element of fear from the players in the club that has maybe gone on for a couple of years and that is something we have to work really hard moving forward to make sure we can get ahead of that.”
Hibs have jettisoned an inordinate number of points to goals conceded in the latter stages of matches this season, and that certainly factors into the “fear” Montgomery references.
“I think that’s something that takes time to change. There is a stigma around the club,” he said. “The things that we spoke about and I was told about before I came to the club.
“Everyone knows ‘Hibsed it’ and the sayings that go with it. That’s been around long before I came to the club. And it does take time to change.
“I think moving forward, I would definitely like to bring somebody in to help with that. Because it’s a real mental thing, as well.
“But it’s the fans, as well, that fear of failure. I think it’s something that has been around the club and isn’t easy to change.
“I have to work really hard to get results that change fans from some of that doubt and fear to supporters who believe. I’m working hard to do that.”
Changing that, as he says, could benefit from some external influence, a fresh set of eyes and ears. Montgomery points out it’s not uncommon for clubs to employ staff to deal with the psychological side of the game, and he must surely feel that recruiting new players who do not bear the scars of this season will help facilitate a reset. But while he does believe that this is a historical issue at Hibs, he plainly admits that he too has made mistakes that he is determined to learn from.
“A lot of clubs have that member of staff. I’m not a psychologist, I’m an ex-player and coach who has had a lot of success and failure,” he said.
“To be able to have a good staff group where you can cater for all that stuff. I did bring in guest speakers throughout the season who were really powerful and did help. But, when you review everything, the staff, the players, and dig really deep, there are things I could have improved or had help with.
“When you’re in the thick of it and you’re still chasing targets, things go pretty quickly. You have to reflect. I’ve definitely made mistakes, like everybody. You learn from them. And that makes you a better person.”