Names In The Mix

Terry Butcher has barely packed his stuff and left Easter Road but Vital Hibs take a look at some candidates likely to be in the frame to replace the big Englishman.

Stuart McCall

The Motherwell manager is held in high regard by Hibs CEO Leeann Dempster who she worked alongside at Fir Park prior to her move to Easter Road a fortnight ago.

Possible stumbling blocks could be any potential compensation package, McCall’s reluctance to drop a division or his hopes of landing the top job at Rangers should he fail in the capital.

However, should he prove to be the catalyst for a Hibs revival his reputation would grow in Scottish Football and beyond.

Ian Murray

Lifelong Hibee has been in charge of Dumbarton for barely 18 months but has a growing reputation after leading the part timers to safety in the Championship over two successive seasons.

He knows what it takes to win games in the division but the opportunity to take the reigns at Easter Road may have came a little too early in his fledgling career.

Would be a relatively popular appointment but would certainly need an experienced no.2 to help guide him.

Danny Lennon

St Mirren chose not to extend the former Cowdenbeath gaffer’s contract this summer despite Lennon leading Saints to Premiership safety.

Plays a patient, easy on the eye, style of football which would suit the paying public who’ve endured some torturous long ball tactics under Butcher and predecessor Pat Fenlon but may be viewed as a cheap option by the fans.

Led Saints to a Scottish League Cup victory over Hearts in 2014, knows Easter Road well from his time there in the early 90’s and has experience of lower leagues through his time with the Blue Brazil.

Billy Davies

Out of work since losing his job at Nottingham Forest, the firebrand may look at Hibs as being the perfect club to rebuild his reputation.

His controversial, often aggressive, managerial style may not suit the Hibees boardroom but may be exactly what the club needs to lead it out the second tier.

Jimmy Calderwood

A manager with an excellent reputation in his adopted homeland of Holland, Calderwood has been overlooked for jobs in Scotland despite impressive spells with Dunfermline and Aberdeen.

May be a good outside choice – plays attacking football with the ball on the deck, knows the Scottish game and apparently has a soft spot for Hibs having talked them up on many occasions.

AN Other

Steve Clarke would be an excellent choice but is miles outwith Hibs pay grade whilst the same rules apply to Alex McLeish and Owen Coyle.

A continental appointment would be welcome but also a huge gamble unless given time to build a suitable vision for the club which the supporters can buy into.

There’s also Alex Neil who’s done a fine job transforming Hamilton who may fancy dropping back down a division to come to a club where he’s likely to be able to fulfil more career ambition.

The speculation will intensify over the next few days but Leeann Dempster has to seek a speedy resolution with the new season ready to kick off in under 8 weeks time.