East Fife 1-3 Hibernian: Calderwood looks likely to be in charge for season opener

East Fife 1Ogleby (pen 35)Hibernian 3Thornhill (58, 75), Sheridan (83)Referee: C Murray

Colin Calderwood dropped a hefty hint that he will be in charge for the SPL opener against Celtic on 24 July after a small section of Hibs supporters vented their annoyance at the ongoing saga involving the Easter Road manager.

After admitting an interest in a return to England, with Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City his suitors as they bid to fill their respective assistant manager vacancies, Calderwood felt the wrath of the club's fans on Saturday during the 3-1 win over East Fife.

The informal nature of pre-season friendlies would normally provide a fairly safe haven for managers when it comes to criticism from the club's own fans, but emotions were running high after on-loan Hearts striker Robert Ogleby gave John Roberston's side a half-time lead from the penalty spot.

As Calderwood walked down the tunnel, a vocal pocket of the visiting support expressed their frustration over the former Scotland defender's perceived lack of commitment to the club.

Calderwood was typically coy when quizzed by members of the press after watching his side stage a second-half fightback to earn a comfortable win, but delivered a more candid message in front of the television cameras.

Speaking after the game, he said: "You'll always want to make sure you're doing the job in the right way, whatever the speculation. We haven't commented on it too much and we really don't want to.

"The fact is I want to be Hibernian manager until someone tells me that's changed one way or another, sacked or compensation.

"What I can say it's a good place to be. There's no doubt about it.

"We've got to be careful of the fans maybe having a negative view on it. I'm aware of that. They've got to understand a lot has been written and not a lot said by us."

Calderwood, who responded with a smile when confronted by shouts from his own fans at half-time, was less forthcoming when talking to newspaper journalists, saying only: "Nothing has developed, it's all quiet on the eastern front. They (the fans] probably were asking questions on my future and I hope to dot the i's and cross the t's on that.

"It hasn't changed. I am Hibernian manager and I'm delighted to be here."

After trailing at half-time to that Ogleby penalty, Hibs hit back after the break with substitute Matt Thornhill notching a brace and trialist Cillian Sheridan nodding in an easy third. Calderwood took the opportunity to give a large number of players a run-out with nine substitutions in the second half.

Midfielder Thornhill said the players want clarification on the future of Calderwood as soon as possible. Thornhill was brought to Easter Road by Calderwood in January after playing under the 46-year-old at Forest but said he and the rest of the squad have been left in the dark over the situation.

He added: "The boys would like to know where they stand with the manager, although we come in every day and think ‘I'm fighting for my place so I don't have to worry about the manager, I will just get on with my own job and sort myself out'. All the boys like him, he signed me for Hibs and I was also with him for three years at Forest so I know a lot about him.

"There is a lot of speculation at the minute about him going back down south but he's not said anything to us."

John Robertson said: "I thought we deserved our interval lead but then Hibs' quality and full-time fitness shone through."

East Fife: Brown (Ridgers 45), Durie, Ovenstone, White, Park, Linn (Sloan 19) (Martin 89), Muir (Newbigging 83), Young, Johnstone (Campbell 67), Ogleby, Wallace (Blakie 89)

Hibernian: Brown (Antell 68), Taggart, Smith (Booth 46), O'Hanlon (Stephens 68), Murray (Hanlon 68), Wotherspoon (Sproule 68), Palsson (Galbraith 68), Stevenson (Thornhill 46), De Graaf, O'Connor (Horner 82), Crawford (Sheridan 46).