Billy Foley shouldn't be calling Hibs shots and the fact he's sticking his neb in has me deeply worried - Tam McManus

I've been heavily critical of Hibs’ decision-makers in recent years and it’s made me about as welcome as a Jam Tart in the Easter Road boardroom at times. But this column isn’t for blowing smoke up backsides or acting as a club lackey – no matter how much I love the Hibees.

Some of the managerial appointments in the past three years have been baffling. Credit where it’s due, though. The Gordon family got it spot-on when they promoted David Gray to the hotseat and brought in Malky Mackay as sporting director. So for Bill Foley to stick his neb in from the other side of the Atlantic this week and accuse the Hibs owners of not listening to him was not just surprising – it was deeply worrying.

To be expecting the final say on the biggest appointments after just a few months is extremely concerning and Foley’s comments make the club look unsettled before the season has even started for real. His remark, “I believe they will listen now”, after Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup defeat to Kelty smacks of a guy used to getting his own way. It wasn’t needed. I appreciate Foley’s Black Knight group has put a lot of money into the club. But they have a 25 per cent stake. They don’t get to call the shots.

He referenced another of his clubs Lorient as listening to his advice. They got relegated last year! Is that supposed to fill supporters with optimism this guy knows what he’s doing? Fair play to the Gordons for sticking to their guns with the appointments they believe are needed right now.

For the first time in their stewardship they’ve got the right management team in after taking a series of fliers going back to Shaun Maloney and Lee Johnson. Now they have Malky overseeing everything, a guy who has a vast experience of Scottish and