Hibernian are considering whether to move for Alex Neil as their next manager, having sacked Jack Ross ten days before contesting the Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic.
Derek McInnes and Neil Lennon are other senior names in the frame and, like Neil, they would be available immediately and without the need for a compensation fee. Ben Kensell, the chief executive, spoke to the Hibs players yesterday and told them it was day one in the search for a new manager.
No firm decision has been taken on where the club will turn next and a left-field option has not been ruled out by chairman Ron Gordon. John Carver, the Scotland assistant manager, was last night linked with the post.
Kensell was commercial director at Norwich City when Neil was manager there. Neil was sacked in 2017 but that decision was not taken by Kensell, who took a more senior role the following year. Neil, 40, has not managed in Scotland since leaving Hamilton in 2015 and was most recently at Preston North End before leaving by mutual consent in March. Callum Davidson, Jim Goodwin, Graham Alexander and their former defender, James McPake, are other options if Hibs look within the Premiership.
Ross joined Hibs in November, 2019, soon after being dismissed by Sunderland, and finished seventh in 2019-20. The following season they finished third in the Premiership, qualified for Europe and reached the League Cup semi-final and the Scottish Cup final only to lose them both to St Johnstone. After a promising start this season their league form collapsed and they took only four points from the last available 27, slipping to seventh in the table. Ross engineered a terrific performance and 3-1 win over Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final last month but angry supporters chanted for his dismissal at the Livingston game on Wednesday night. Chairman Gordon is now looking for his third permanent manager since taking over in 2019 having dismissed Paul Heckingbottom and now Ross.
Advertisement
In a club statement Kensell said: “Following the prolonged run of poor results in the league, the club has taken the tough decision to relieve Jack Ross of his duties. We thank Jack and John [Potter, assistant manager] for all their hard work and dedication to the role. The club has moved forward under their leadership, and we will fondly remember some incredible highs like reaching two cup finals and finishing third in the league last season.”
Former player David Gray will be caretaker manager for “the foreseeable future”, supported by Eddie May and Craig Samson.
