Scott Allan airs next Hibs manager hunch as Easter Road decision makers face pressure test over pivotal hire
The former Hibs midfielder has been assessing who could become the next manager at Easter Road.
Scott Allan reckons Hibs decision makers can’t afford to make the wrong call on their next manager - and believes they will go foreign.
Head coach David Gray’s sacking last week after two full seasons has sparked a hunt for who comes next. Motherwell - who finished fourth and a place above Hibs in the Premiership last season - hit the managerial jackpot by bringing in Jens Berthel Askou last year. The Dane’s possession-based approach earned heavy acclaim and a move to Ligue 1’s Toulouse, with several other Scottish clubs now transitioning to a style largely seen in European football.
Gray’s style was criticised in some quarters as pragmatic with club hero Allan believing a shift is now needed. He feels Hibs chiefs have to be bold and cast the net beyond the UK for someone who will play attractive football alongside earning regular results.
Who will Hibs hire as next manager?
The former playmaker told the Evening News: “I think there has to be a change. I think you are most likely to see someone from abroad come in and look to really take the club forward in a different direction that we haven't seen from Hibs in the last few years. I think a lot of people look at Motherwell and their appointments, totally changed how a lot of people think in Scottish football, there's no getting away from that. I think fans are now demanding a style of play as well as winning games, so I think that would be the type of route that Hibs go down.
“First and foremost though, I think you've got to appreciate when David Gray came in, the club hadn't found something that really worked for the squad of players that they had. There were so many turnovers and David Gray was the guy that came in and stabilised that. I always felt going into this season they would have to evolve in some way and unfortunately they just haven't had the results there alongside performances that fans may want to get on board with.”
Hibs majority shareholders, the Gordon family, have copped flak before with appointments of Shaun Maloney, Lee Johnson and Nick Montgomery coming under fire. Sporting director Malky Mackay is also drawing fan ire after the summer transfer window and Allan - who will manage a Hibs legend’s side in the rebooted Tennent’s Sixes tournament at Braehead Arena next month - believes they’re under pressure to make a wise decision.
Hearts have also gone foreign by hiring Belgian Wouter Vrancken to replace Derek McInnes, Swedish gaffer Alfred Johansson has come in for Askou at Motherwell, and Finnish leader Simo Valakari is impressing with St Johnstone.
Scott Allan on next Hibs manager
He explained: “I think there's a lot of pressure on them to get the appointment right. There's no getting away from that. I just think it's one of these appointments where I don't think they can afford to get it wrong. They've been in the job now a good few years, they've seen what other teams are doing, how they're trying to recruit certain managers for a certain style of football so that's your job. You've got to have a list of names, you've got to go and suss them out, how that will then fit this current squad of players you have at Hibs. So it's not a case of trust for me, I just think they can't miss with this one.”
Currently under the interim management of John Potter, Hibs players fly out to La Manga for a warm-weather training camp on Saturday. Speaking after Saturday’s draw with Aberdeen, Potter said he was in no doubt the club ‘would love’ to have someone new in place to lead that Spanish trip.
There will still be a full free week of no games beyond that though before a return to action on October 10 against Dundee United at Tannadice. Allan reckons the extended break put in place due to the World Cup has come at the right moment for Hibs as how things start under new management could prove season altering.
He added: “I think the length of the international break gives them a really good opportunity to get someone in and someone in quick. Hibs go away in a mid-season training camp and that would be a good chance to obviously get to know the players. Ultimately the most important thing is Hibs fans are wanting to come back from the internationals and see what their side is going to look like. These next few weeks are crucial to how Hibs' season is going to end up for them."
The SPFL Tennent's Sixes takes place at the Braehead Arena on Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4. Tickets for afternoon and evening sessions are available via spfltennentssixes.co.uk.