Hibs verdict: Stability and progress needed as long old season creeps to an unsatisfying end

Paul McGinn probably speaks for everyone of a Hibs persuasion as he reflects on a long old campaign that still isn’t finished.

The last time Hibs changed managers in the summer, Alan Stubbs had just led the team to Scottish Cup glory for the first time in 114 years. The feeling of elation, curse-conquering, and finally lifting the famous old trophy produced an immense sense of positivity around the club.

Stubbs returned to England for an ill-fated spell at Rotherham while Neil Lennon arrived at Hibs to ultimately succeed where his predecessor hadn’t and take the club back to the Scottish Premiership. That was in the summer of 2016.

Since then Hibs have yo-yoed; Lennon securing fourth place on the side’s first season back in the top flight and a wee European run, before eventually leaving under a cloud. Paul Heckingbottom’s arrival heralded an impressive unbeaten run before he too left following a heavy League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic.

Jack Ross was next up, leading Hibs to third for the first time in 15 years in his first full season in charge before being sacked shortly before the Premier Sports Cup final in December. Shaun Maloney followed but after just six wins in 19 games and 120 days in charge, he too was shown the door.

Including David Gray, Hibs have had six managers in the last six years. The club needs stability, and progress.

Hibs hope to appoint a manager for the long-term; someone who can ideally combine the best bits of those six managers and return the side to the upper echelons of the league and the final stages of both cups, qualify for Europe, and get the fans back on side.

"You know whoever is going to come in will be watching. They might not go back and watch the games we played well in, but