Easter Road job is ‘better’ than Pat Fenlon first thought

By ALAN PATTULLO
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 00:00

BOTTOM club Dunfermline may have pulled level on points with his side on Tuesday night, but Pat Fenlon is still relishing being manager of Hibernian.

The Irishman yesterday described the role as “better” rather than tougher than he imagined. Last Saturday’s win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup certainly brightened the outlook, as have a collection of new arrivals. They have been signed with a principal aim in mind – to keep Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.

Their position now looks a little more precarious. Dunfermline’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at East End Park meant they drew level with Hibs on the 18-point mark. Eight points separate both sides from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, in third bottom place. However, Fenlon stressed that he continues to look up the way, though he “would have preferred Dunfermline to lose on Tuesday night”.

It might have been worse. Had Dunfermline scored their first home league victory of the season, Hibs could have been detached at the bottom going into tomorrow’s home league match with Aberdeen. Perhaps this is why he chose not to attend East End Park on Tuesday. “It’s not something we can concern ourselves with,” he explained. “We have to focus on ourselves. As well as worrying about what’s behind us, we have to try and catch one or two ahead of us.”

Aberdeen, whose manager Craig Brown has won the Manager of the Month award for January, are probably too far ahead and safe from relegation after a good run of form. Fenlon believes they can act as an inspiration to his players. “Aberdeen are a good example of what can be done if you put a few results together,” he said.

The thought of what can be achieved at Hibs excites him. “It’s not a bigger job than I expected,” he said. “Hibs have been in this position for a while, so I knew when I came in how difficult it would be. But it’s a better job than I thought. This is a fantastic club and it’s something I can get my teeth into.

“When you come in and see the size of it, the support we carry and the potential to increase that, it gives you a real lift. If you can take it to that level, to where it should be, it would be more enjoyable. I want to make it into an even better job. That would mean bringing success to Hibs. The club is bigger than I thought it would be initially. There is huge potential here and we must tap into it.”

But the first task is to start winning league games, and he knows his collection of new arrivals will have to gel quickly. Five players made their home debuts last weekend, while Honduran midfielder Jorge Claros, signed last month, looks set to make his first appearance at Easter Road tomorrow. “Jorge trained yesterday so he’s available,” said Fenlon. “The temptation is to play him because he’s a quality player, but he’s had a fair bit of travelling to do.

“We’ll make a decision on him on Friday. Jorge can make an impact for us. He’s the type of player we need in the team at the moment. We need a bit of calmness, someone to put his foot on the ball and slow things down. That’s what he’ll bring to us.

“We’ve brought in a type of player who are different to what we had,” he added. “A couple of them have a fair bit of experience and leadership around the dressing-room. That’s something we had to address quickly and we think we’ve done that.”

James McPake, one of those signed to provide leadership, is suspended tomorrow after being sent off at Ibrox at the end of last month, as is his central defensive partner, Paul Hanlon. Matt Doherty looks set to move from full-back to centre-half, where he could partner David Stephens. Fenlon’s vision is being imposed on the team. As with predecessor Colin Calderwood, he has quickly accepted responsibility for what happens on the pitch, although he would prefer the opportunity to look at things again in the summer, with Hibs still an SPL club.

“It’s my team now, to a point,” Fenlon said. “When you come in during the season, a lot of players are already there and you can’t change it. But during the window we’ve changed things around, we’ve changed the training and we’re getting there. Eventually it will happen, but we have a bit to go yet.”

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66

jambo2006

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:04 AM

Still an abusive internet warrior, no change no suprise and a waste of gods air, when the bawz drop we may see a change in your nasty vitriol to others until then gtf you brainless tool

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65

MrHibs07-1973

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:32 PM

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64

jambo2006

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 10:16 PM

mrs fibs are you and the yak an item oooh suits you sir haha

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63

MrHibs07-1973

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:24 PM

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62

St Bernards AFC

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:07 PM

Oh yakkety yak kak..just thought i'd point out that your post #54 forget about icarus wtf is financail ? try financial lmfao xx

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61

St Bernards AFC

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:07 PM

pmsl yak you are funny.....

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60

Baldrick

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:05 PM

Hibs in grave danger of relegation. Hearts in grave danger of oblivion. Not a great season for Edinburgh really. I honestly wonder seriously now if Hearts could emulate Gretna. Play in the Cup final one day and vanish the next. Hope not.

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59

The Yak Farmer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:57 PM

Bernie's a bit of a PLANK ain't he? Not much to add to that other than I think he needs a LIGHTBOX in the computer room. He loves the ROLLERS as well....

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58

The Yak Farmer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:55 PM

*Icarus

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57

The Yak Farmer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:55 PM

30 - That's very odd you choose to say that Roly, because I do recall a rather confident young type with an identical username to your own, regaling readers with insights into the world of corporate law a few months back! Surely a high-flyer such as yourself hasn't developed " Icrarus-like wings" all of a sudden to crash back to earth with a bump? Even allowing for the financail downturn, I assumed a modium of pecuniary knowledge on your part, too. Numbers, figures, old casio calculators - that sort of thing. Oh well...

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56

St Bernards AFC

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:47 PM

Mr cHibs you telling me you've gotta kinky thang for men in boilersuits, soz can't help you with that one, but hey who am i to judge what ever floats yer boat tiger, remember dont put griffiths as 1st scorer tomorrow he's not playing...try J. McPake lmao enjoy yer w-end big boy xx

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55

MrHibs07-1973

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:02 PM

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54

St Bernards AFC

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:30 PM

Prefer curry flavour Mmmmm, glad my misuse of the english dictionary is minimal compared to mr cHibs noledge of the football team he purrrrrports to support xx

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53

St Bernards AFC

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:23 PM

Grammar or Grammer its the hibs way eh tho or though happy in the noledge or knowledge the message indeted or intended was recieved or received loud and clear xx

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52

Jake MacBagpipe

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:01 PM

I have to say, that smile on Pat Fenlon's face looks...well...almost genuine....haven't seen that around ER for a good long while...I think we've turned the corner at last, and will gub the northern sheep-worriers by a substantial margin whilst maintaining a clean sheet.

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