Business as usual for Hibs despite hunt for new manager

Almost two weeks after losing manager John Hughes "by mutual consent," the squad he left behind will be back in action for the first time tomorrow still very much in the same position as he left them, just one point off bottom place.

While the search for a new manager continues with no sign of an imminent appointment, the focus returns to events on the pitch and the visit of the Kilmarnock side which ended Hibs interest in the Co-operative Insurance Cup only a few weeks ago.

The Rugby Park outfit are now, of course, under the charge of Mixu Paatelainen, who no doubt knows just how Hughes is feeling today having undergone the exact same experience barely 16 months ago, his own departure, like that of his successor, having been shrouded by those mystical words so often associated with a parting of the ways within a football club - by mutual consent.

The time for recriminations and finger-pointing over exactly what has gone wrong within a dressing-room packed with players who clinched fourth place last season but have managed just one win in ten games so far this time round is over but, as Hibs star Michael Hart revealed, there has been a lot of soul-searching on both an individual and collective basis.

As one of Hughes' summer signings, Hart confessed to not being entirely comfortable with his own part in the manager's demise. While, ultimately, poor results resulted in Yogi losing his dream job, Hart said: "I think part of it has to rest on the players, we know we have to take responsibility.

"If results had been better he would still be in his job. It's been a frustrating time for everyone, a lot has happened but games take your mind off everything. Whatever problems you may have go out the window as you concentrate simply on winning the game."

Hart admitted the last thing he expected as he trooped off at McDiarmid Park, bitterly disappointed by a 2-0 defeat by St Johnstone, was to arrive at Hibs East Mains training ground less than 48 hours later to discover he and his team-mates had lost their manager.

Like the rest of the squad he's reflected on events of recent weeks, revealing: "I possibly blame myself a bit more than the younger boys. He brought me here and I have certainly not played to my potential yet for one reason or another.

"He showed a lot of faith in me and I wanted to replay it quickly but I know myself I have not played to the best of my ability although I know it will come. Had I played a bit would he still be in a job? I'm not sure. we are all gauged on results.

"From a personal point of view, I haven't played to the standard I expect of myself but I think if you asked others they will say the same thing. I do not think I am the only one who has made mistakes. I think everyone clearly has not done enough and that is shown in a man losing his job which is both frustrating and disappointing.

"But this same group of players is capable of much more and hopefully that will start this weekend."

While intense speculation continues over the identity of Hughes' successor, an ever-growing list of possible candidates intriguing the players as much as the fans, Hart is well aware Hibs' new manager may be counted among the supporters tomorrow.

However, he insisted such a possiblity shouldn't be a distraction although he conceded the arrival of a new occupant for the Easter Road hotseat brings both apprehension and anticipation in equal degree to the dressing-room. He said: "You should still be performing the way you should be every week, working to the best of your ability and giving 100 per cent.

"Other than enjoying such a high profile, football is no different from any other business when the boss changes.

"In effect, nothing really changes, you still have to come in to your work. The new guy might like or dislike you but, at the end of the day, if you are a professional in whatever walk of life, you have to do your best.

"If you do that you would hope you then get the respect of whoever comes in. There will also be a few boys who might have felt they were out in the cold but now it is level-pegging, the slate has been wiped clean for everyone."

It's the second time in ten months former Aberdeen and Livingston star Hart has found himself in this situation, Alan Irvine having parted company with English Championship outfit Preston North End midway through last season while he was part of the squad at Deepdale.

He said: "It was a strange situation. I don't know what the ins and outs were and I don't think Alan himself saw it coming.

"Results at the time had not been too bad, we were sitting in the lower half of the table and, while performances had been poor, the fans were not calling for his head or booing because they knew we were trying hard.

"However, expectations had risen because we'd reached the play-offs the previous season and were now tenth or 11th, the chairman wanted a change thing around, to move in a new direction. It was all a bit of a shock and a surprise."

Hughes' own departure may have been a little less surprising to some given Hibs took a meagre five points from seven SPL matches, continuing a poor run of results which extends back into last season, although Hart believes, as his former manager stated on a number of occasions, that a touch of luck at times would have dramatically changed the outlook but also fully accepted the team's shortcomings.

Rejecting the claims made by some that Hibs were currently a club in crisis, Hart pointed out they were, in fact, just one win away from the SPL's top six, adding: "We haven't given our fans too much to cheer, but, to be fair, they have been there supporting us.

"I honestly feel our performances at times have not been too bad, we've been ahead in matches, had further chances, not taken them and lived to regret it. The Co-op Cup game against Kilmarnock the other week was one of them and we cannot keep doing it.

"People know we are a good passing side but perhaps at times we over-pass it. We need a bit more of a cutting edge, to make more chances for our strikers, to have more players chipping in with goals and more clean sheets. It's not down to the striker or the defenders, though, it's a team thing, a bit more of an edge and Lady Luck on our side and we would have more points.

"We are a very attacking team but we'd get a hell of the way to where we want to go with clean sheets. We'd like to put on a performance but first and foremost, we need the points to start climbing the table.

"We don't want to be in and around that bottom zone come Christmas or beyond because then it gets really difficult. I have been there and it is a hard place to get out of. We've got off to a bad start, no question about it, but in football you can turn things around, a few wins and you are right out of it."