What next for Hibs after Hughes?

Manager John Hughes has parted company with Hibernian by mutual consent.

A 2-0 loss at St Johnstone left Hibs without a victory since the opening day of the Scottish Premier League season.

"John has been a hard-working and dedicated manager of Hibernian," said chairman Rod Petrie of Hughes, 46, who held the job for only 17 months.

"We thank him for his honesty and passion for the club," added Petrie, who said that Hughes recognised the need for a new face and fresh approach.

Hughes remained convinced following the defeat by St Johnstone that he would be able to restore the club's fortunes.

"I've got great belief in what I'm doing," Hughes said on Saturday.

I am proud of what we achieved last season, and I wish the board, players and supporters every success John Hughes

"Nobody's hurting more than me and, hopefully, the players.

"We want to get it right. I know what I've got, I know what needs to be done."

However, in a statement on the club's website on Monday, Hughes said he had enjoyed his managerial spell with his boyhood heroes.

"I have relished every minute of my time at Hibernian, the club I have always supported and which will always have a special place in my heart," he said.

"I am proud of what we achieved last season, and I wish the board, players and supporters every success."

His assistant, Brian Rice, has also left the club.

Having captained the team as an imposing centre-half, Hughes took up the managerial reins at Easter Road in June 2009 following six years with Falkirk.

He enjoyed a fine start to his first season in charge. Indeed, by the end of January, Hibs were only two points off second-place Celtic in the SPL.

Form faded towards the end of the campaign but Hughes and his players secured a fourth-place SPL finish, enough to guarantee a Europa League qualifying slot.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Who should replace John Hughes at Easter Road?

However, their involvement in that tournament was limited to home-and-away defeats by Slovenians NK Maribor before this season's domestic campaign had begun.

A frustrating start to the 2010/11 season, where Hibs have lost four out of seven matches and sit a point above bottom club St Mirren, was compounded by a 3-1 defeat by Kilmarnock in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

There were a number of departures at the club over the summer, among them goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay and Abdessalam Benjelloun.

But the sale of striker Anthony Stokes to Celtic at the end of August for about £800,000 would have been a blow to Hughes, for the Irishman, with 23 goals, was the club's top scorer last season.

Hughes signed a replacement in Darryl Duffy, on loan from Bristol Rovers. The former Scotland Under-21 international has made three substitute appearances and has yet to score for the Easter Road side.

Whoever replaces Hughes will have at his disposal recent signings Edwin de Graaf from Breda, Middlesbrough's Jonathan Grounds, Utrecht defender Francis Dickoh and striker Valdas Trakys.

Interim appointments aside - and there have been three of those in Donald Park, Mark Proctor and Tommy Craig - Hibs have had seven managers in 10 years.

Their three most recent managerial appointments have gone to former players - Hughes, Mixu Paatelainen and John Collins.

Since Alex McLeish left Easter Road in December 2001, Franck Sauzee, Bobby Williamson and Tony Mowbray have also been in the Leith hot seat.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version