Hibs close in on Alan Stubbs appointment

Former Celtic and Everton player Alan Stubbs is in line for the Hibs job. Picture: Getty

The Everton under-21 coach emerged as the favourite after meeting Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster last week and it is believed that, unless there is a late U-turn by either party, the former Celtic defender will take charge of the squad within the next couple of days.

It is understood that Everton gave the Edinburgh club permission to speak to Stubbs and, having impressed in the interview, he has now been lined up to replace Terry Butcher who was sacked in the aftermath of Hibs being relegated. Dempster, who is making her recommendation to the board this weekend, has stated that she would not necessarily chose a candidate with previous managerial experience. She said she wanted someone who was desperate to prove themselves, whether that be a relative novice, an older manager who had been out the game for a while or someone who had been coaching but wanted to make the step up.

Stubbs fits the bill and having been interviewed for the Everton manager’s job last summer following David Moyes’ move to Manchester United, he made it clear that he wanted to graduate to first team management.

Hibs’ first game of the season will be in the Challenge Cup on 26 July, with the first capital derby just two weeks into the league campaign. The Hibs players return for pre-season training tomorrow and Dempster wants her man in place as soon as possible so he can assess the 15 first team players he will inherit and quickly get to work on identifying the players he wants to bring in to fill the gaps and strengthen the club’s bid for promotion from the Championship.