Caretaker Brown hints at new Hibs manager this week

By Alan Pattullo and Iain Collin
Published on Wednesday 23 November 2011 12:11

THE appointment of a new manager at Hibernian appears to be imminent after Billy Brown, who has been doing the job as caretaker, admitted yesterday that a new man could be in place by the end of this week.

Three of the bookmakers offering odds about who will be the next Easter Road manager stopped taking bets last night, with Pat Fenlon of Bohemians their clear favourite. But it is understood that, by last night, there had still been no follow-up contact between the Irishman and the Easter Road club following their talks last week. The 42-year-old is keen on the job in Edinburgh, having previously been close to landing the Dundee United post in 2010.

With Hibernian keeping their cards close to their chest since Colin Calderwood’s sacking 17 days ago, Brown confessed that anything could happen between now and the weekend. The former Hearts assistant manager, who led Hibs to a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at the weekend and has been interviewed for the job is now preparing the squad for Saturday’s match against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

However, the 60-year-old told Hibernian TV: “This could be my last interview. I’m not daft and I’ve been in football for a long time. I know there may possibly be someone here in charge by the end of the week, so I’m well aware of that.”

Brown has made no secret of his desire to land the post, and he added: “To have been put in charge of Hibs on Saturday was a great moment and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It was strange as well because I never expected to be here. I know some people may object to it, but I’m very proud to be here at Hibs.”

In a further indication that developments are expected at Easter Road, the club has yet to inform the media of the details of this week’s usual pre-match press conference, which normally takes place on a Thursday with the media notified on Monday.

Meanwhile, former Hibs defender Steven Tweed insists the club will be missing a trick if they do not appoint Michael O’Neill as the successor to Calderwood. O’Neill flew to Sweden with Shamrock Rovers last night with his hopes fading of landing the post at his former club.

The former Easter Road winger was an early favourite for the job but neither he nor his Dublin side have received any approach for their title-winning manager.

The 42-year-old is out of contract at the Tallaght Stadium next month and it is understood he would be keen on a return to the Edinburgh club he served as a player for three years in the 1990s.

However, the former Brechin City manager, who has led Rovers to back-to-back Irish championships and into the Europa League group stages for the first time in their history, is privately accepting that Hibs must have other options.

The Northern Ireland cap is also being considered by his country, who are seeking a replacement for Nigel Worthington, who stood down last month.

But he is trying to put such distractions aside to concentrate on preparations for Shamrock’s remaining two Europa League encounters with Rubin Kazan and Tottenham Hotspur.

Rovers face Swedish side Malmo today in a friendly and return to Ireland tomorrow before flying to Russia next Tuesday for Wednesday’s meeting with Kazan.

Tweed insists it is those European exploits, coupled with domestic success and a knowledge of the Scottish game, that should have marked his former team-mate out as the board’s number one choice.

The former Montrose manager, now playing with Broughty Ferry, said: “The chances are Michael could go straight to English football from Ireland, given what he has done with Shamrock Rovers.

“He has done so much with them in a short period of time, getting into the Europa League for the first time in their history and winning back-to-back championships.

“But there’s not much more he can do there and now is the time for Hibs to make their move.

“He was the early favourite because he has so many attributes – former player, what he’s done as a manager, knows the Scottish game and the market.

“The time they [Hibs] are taking isn’t an issue for me. I wouldn’t mind if they took until Christmas, as long as they got the right person in. But I still believe it should be Michael.”

Former Scotland skipper Bruce Rioch, out of work since being sacked in October 2008 by Danish side Aalborg, is another who has been mentioned as a potential contender, with his close relationship with Tony Mowbray a possible link.

Fenlon had rocketed to the head of the betting last week, with a string of bookmakers slashing his odds from 20-1 to as low as 1-6. A former Republic of Ireland B cap, Fenlon will have be hoping he made a good impression on his last visit to Easter Road, when his team were defeated 2-1 in a friendly with Calderwood’s Hibs in March.

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33

Baldrick

Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 12:54 AM

The main consideration for the Giro board is cost. They will go for the cheapest option. I suspect a clapped out jambo and two failed Irishmen will all be cheap. May as well put their names in a hat and pick one out.

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32

roncol

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 08:01 PM

The Irish Times are reporting Bohemians have they have granted permission for manager pat Fenlon to open talks with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian. The 42-year-old Dubliner has been linked with the post since Colin Calderwood was sacked earlier this month after just over a year in the job, leaving Hibs just two points off the bottom of the table. Fenlon has a year left on his contract with Bohs, where he has been manager since December 2007. He has guided the club to two league titles and an FAI Cup, while he has also managed Shelbourne and Derry City and the Republic of Ireland under-23 side in 2007-08. Fenlon appeared to be on the verge of moving to Scottish football last year when Dundee United offered him the manager’s job, but the club failed to reach agreement with Bohemians, who are heavily in debt, on a compensation deal. http:www.irishtimes.comsportssoccer201111231224308042955.html

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31

C4miles

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 05:26 PM

Cannot see it ! Whoever gets the position will not have a lot to spend and be expected to produce a style of football worth watching while getting results.

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30

Hen Broon

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 05:25 PM

STRANGE......BARON....... i am not so sure that he is the right man either but then again how can you be sure about any appointment. I thought GS would be seen as an iconic figure that would give the place a lift. Yep same old stick from the same old keyboard commandos ....they hunt in a pack.................. one proudly confiming that he was indeed far more interested in his perception of hearts demise than anything going on at easter rd.....that shut me up....that was the point i was alluding to! Towel has now been thrown in as they along with Tam Tam & kiddon Jambo Johnny are pretty much all thats left & a constructive debate is a non starter . STUART MCCALL would indeed be a cracking appointment BTW

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29

Hen Broon

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 05:15 PM

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28

Baron von Hibee

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 03:47 PM

#25 TOTT not so sure. Without money to spend at Coventry (which we haven't got either), he took them down. Everywhere else he has spent & spent then left for different reasons. Is he the man for a five-year plan? Is he the man to bring through youngsters? is he the man to work on a tight budget? Is he the man to work with Rod? I'm not so sure. Look at the mess he made of Middlesborough after overspending. He's not for me, though his legendary discipline with the players may be good. Had a quick look at the Hearts board earlier and see you're still getting the same old same old. Stick to your guns!

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27

Geezer

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 03:21 PM

Spotted that on another story my comrades and myself are still rolling about the floor......

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26

Geezer

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 03:20 PM

Feed The Jam Tarts I am organising a jumble sale to help out our brethern in their time of need. All donations gratefully accepted. So far I have a bag full of discarded Russian Hats, no donation is too small, or too outrageous. Some people will buy anything.

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25

Hen Broon

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 03:18 PM

#24 That would certainly lift the Hibs fans.

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24

statesman

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 02:53 PM

I support the BIG TEAM but advise you to put any spare cash you have on Strachan.

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23

De Vries Scores Four

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 02:51 PM

Makes little difference which cheap manager gets the job. It's like they say "you can only p!$$ with the d!ck that youve got" and hibs' d!ck is rank rotten. The team will continue to sit near the bottom of the league, the fans will move their abuse from Calderwood to (insert new manager here) and the attendances will continue to whittle away to under 5,000 by february. Before you know it, you're sitting 8th in the lower division, losing 0-4 to Partick Thistle at the emptiest stadium in the country. Crabbies dont do predictions, but if they did, they'd be the best predictions in the world

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22

roncol

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 02:07 PM

Pat Fenlon also had an excellent record with Shelbourne before Bohemians. In many ways his record with Shelbourne was better than the time he spent with Bohs. He did however leave them with very large debts!

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21

Cramond

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 01:28 PM

8 Grierson. You were quite right in stating that Wilkpedia had said earlier this morning that Fenlon had become Hibs manager from today but they have now retracted that statement and replaced it with one that says simply that Fenlon has only been interviewed for the Hibs job. Does that mean that he hasn't got it or what?

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20

Hen Broon

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 01:21 PM

#19 VINNIe....unless Hibs are heading to the Irish league there is no chance of repeating that with the current incumbents ......miles better than Tony Mobray and i would venture a guess (U can correct me) better than the late great Eddie T....however impressive all the same.

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19

Vincent Vega

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 01:15 PM

Fenlon's Bohemians Record: 141 league games,Won:87, Draw:28, Lost:26. If he can repeat anything like that with Hibs he'll be the new mesiah.

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