Stubbs will allay fears with style
NEW Hibs boss Alan Stubbs last night vowed to win over doubting Easter Road fans with a swashbuckling style of football. As Sportsmail first revealed, the 42-year-old Englishman has been handed his first senior role in management after landing the post of head coach at the relegated Edinburgh club. Described by chief executive Leeann Dempster as the ‘stand-out choice’, the former Celtic defender quit his job as Everton Under-21 coach to work in a new continental structure expected to feature a
director-of-football role. Stubbs becomes Hibs’ seventh manager in eight years and has been handed a twoyear contract. Allaying fan fears that his lack of first-team management experience represents a gamble ahead of a cut-throat SPFL Championship promotion battle with Rangers and Hearts, however, Stubbs promised to win hearts and minds. ‘We will play football,’ he insisted after meeting the players for three hours at the club’s East Mains training ground. ‘That’s fundamental to me. I want the ball on the ground but I also want to win games. I don’t want to get the two mixed up. ‘I know it’s important — and it’s vital for me if I am to progress and be successful. I have to win games of football. ‘But I want to play the right way, as well. ‘It’s going to be a great season (with Rangers
Stubbs is all set to take over at Hibs We told yo you first: How Sp Sportsmail l br broke the st story
and Hearts also in the Championship). ‘There will be a lot of players coming in and competition for places will be really strong. ‘We will have a team on the pitch come the first day of the season I’m sure the fans are going to be excited to watch.’ He takes up his post immediately and will prioritise new faces after inheriting just 15 senior players — and no goalkeeper — after 11 were released at the end of last season. ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ he continued. ‘It’s going to be a big challenge. I think everyone knows that we haven’t got enough players, so the work has already started because we want to hit the ground running. ‘I introduced myself
Hibs given green light to speak with Stubbs
today ay and said hello to the players. ‘We will have another chat tomorrow about the road ahead and what I expect from them. ‘It’s not going to be too different to what they have normally heard but it’s about looking forward and not back.’ A Celtic defender for five years, Stubbs won two league titles and overcame two bouts of cancer before joining boyhood idols Everton. He began his coaching career at Goodison in 2008 and interviewed for the manager’s job before Roberto Martinez was appointed last summer. ‘We wish Alan the very best of luck,’ said Martinez. ‘The reality is when you do things well, people take notice. ‘It reflects the excellent work done last season and means it has been seen from the outside, as well. ‘We’re proud when those individuals that are Everton through and through get noticed and are given opportunities.’ Stubbs succeeds Terry Butcher after impressing during the interview process, with Dempster saying: ‘Alan is a driven, intelligent and strong-minded character, who has a clear vision about what he wants to achieve in football — producing positive results, playing attractive football and developing young players. ‘All those attributes fitted the criteria we required and we’re confident Alan is the man to unite the club and bring success to Hibernian. ‘Alan will be our head coach and that is part of the new structure in place at the club; a continental-style model designed for long-term success.’