Hibs are looking for a new manager after sacking Jack Ross in the wake of last night’s 1-0 defeat by Livingston – and it is time for Hibees owner Ron Gordon to put up or shut up.
Since taking over at Easter Road, the American tycoon has made no secret of his desire to turn Hibs into a team capable of challenging for the title and ending the Old Firm’s dominance and he has the perfect opportunity to make a real show of intent with the appointment of Ross’ replacement.
(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Previous comments made by Gordon have compared what he wants to do at Hibs with how Sevilla and Atletico Madrid operate in Spain alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid and there’s absolutely no faulting his ambition.
However, if he wants to be taken seriously in the long-term, Ross’ replacement can’t just be another like-for-like change that sees little progression and the only real difference being the coaching staff sitting in the dugout.
Nobody expects the Hibees to suddenly start throwing millions about on players or bringing coaches like Pep Guardiola to Leith but if Gordon is genuine with what he says, he can’t just go through the list of out of work Scottish managers and pick one from near the top.
That’s not to say the likes of Derek McInnes couldn’t bring some level of success to Hibs, but the odd trophy here and there doesn’t really fit with the long-term vision that was sold to Hibs fans when Gordon rolled into the capital.
But with the ‘old guard’ of Leeann Dempster, Graeme Mathie and, now, Ross, away Gordon can have no excuses for not pushing ahead with his vision of what Hibs should look like.
If it is just more of the same though, the American is going to find it very hard to convince the Easter Road faithful to back his plans in the future.
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