Fenlon: Win or bust, Butcher can’t be sacked
PAT FENLON has urged Hibernian to stand by his successor Terry Butcher, regardless of whether or not the club is relegated to the Championship.
On Wednesday, Butcher leads the Edinburgh club into the first game of a two-legged play-off against either Hamilton Accies or Falkirk, and he does so amid mounting supporter unrest.
Hibs are on a miserable run featuring just one win in 19 games and, after last weekend’s defeat to Kilmarnock condemned the team to an 11th-place Premiership finish, some angry fans staged a protest calling for the sacking of the former Inverness Caley Thistle boss. Fenlon, who quit Hibs back in November with the team sitting seventh in the Premiership table, insists the club’s malaise extends well beyond the identity of the manager.
He said: ‘I’m not going to criticise Terry because I think the worst thing Hibs could do now is change again. I hope the club stands by him. It needs stability.
‘If the club believed Terry was the right man six months ago, that shouldn’t change.’
Dubliner Fenlon, now residing back in his home city, insists he will be rooting for Hibs both on Wednesday and in next Sunday’s crucial second leg at Easter Road.
He added: ‘I will be desperate for Hibs to win. I know the circumstances. I know it will be a disaster if they go down. People need to realise this needs time to get right. There is a lot more to it than just changing the team or the manager.
‘Hibs need to find themselves again and it’s going to take a bit of time. I know the supporters don’t want to hear that but I think it will.’
Hibs’ opposition will be determined today as Hamilton host Falkirk in the semi-final second leg with the score tied at 1-1.