Robinson and Ross in frame as Hibs sack Heckingbottom
● Stockdale also axed, with May in caretaker role
Hibernian have joined city rivals Hearts in the search for a new manager after sacking Paul Heckingbottom.
The 42-year-old was dismissed, along with his assistant, Robbie Stockdale, yesterday afternoon after less than nine months in the role.
Hibs’ decision to part company with Heckingbottom came only four days after Hearts dismissed Craig Levein as manager. Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson and former St Mirren and Sunderland boss Jack Ross, already linked with the Tynecastle vacancy, have now also been installed among the early favourites to replace Heckingbottom at Easter Road.
Word of Heckingbottom’s exit, which had been demanded by an increasing number of Hibs fans in recent weeks, emerged early yesterday afternoon.
But it was not until 6pm that Hibs finally confirmed the news in a terse 61-word statement which offered no reason for the decision or provided any input from either chief executive Leeann Dempster or club owner Ron Gordon, pictured.
“Hibernian FC today announced that head coach Paul Heckingbottom and his assistant coach, Robbie Stockdale, have been relieved of their duties at the club,” read the statement.
“Head of player development Eddie May will take charge of the team on an interim basis – supported by assistant coach
Grant Murray and
Steven Whittaker. “Supporters can expect further comment from the club in the coming days.”
May was previously in interim charge of Hibs following the departure of Neil Lennon as manager in January, overseeing four games before former Barnsley and Leeds United boss Heckingbottom was given the job. Heckingbottom was handed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he was appointed on 13 February after Hibs’ initial target, former Blackburn Rovers boss Michael Appleton, withdrew himself from the running. Hibs were eighth
in the Premiership table when Heckingbottom took charge and he made an impressive start with a ten-match unbeaten run in the league, including a 2-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle which earned him early approval from the Easter Road faithful. He was named Premiership Manager of the Month for March.
Despite losing the last three games of last season, Hibs secured a creditable fifth-place finish to suggest Heckingbottom had laid a platform for progress.
The summer transfer window saw him bring ten new recruits into the squad but few of them have made a positive impact so far.
Hibs qualified from their Betfred Cup group against lower division opponents but even at that stage of the campaign, fans raised doubts about the quality and direction of the team under Heckingbottom.
They beat St Mirren in their opening Premiership fixture but have not won another league game since. The dismal run included a 6-1 drubbing against Rangers at Ibrox and a home defeat by Hearts.
Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Celtic in the Betfred Cup semi-final, preceded by a run of six consecutive draws in the league which left Hibs third bottom of the Premiership, proved to be the tipping point for the club’s powerbrokers.
Heckingbottom’s tenure comprised 32 games which saw him claim 12 wins, 11 draws and suffer nine defeats. Hibs are just one point ahead of bottom two clubs Hearts and St Mirren with the interim management team facing a crucial fixture away to St Johnstone this Saturday.