Kris Commons rips into Hibs as Celtic pal Shaun Maloney axe sparks fuming 'trigger happy' board verdict

Raging Kris Commons has launched a firm defence of former Celtic pal Shaun Maloney after he was sacked by Hibs.

And he didn't hold back on the Easter Road board after Maloney's four month stint in Leith was brought to an abrupt end.

Maloney's spell ended after he failed to secure a top six Premiership finish before enduring a 2-1 defeat to their biggest rivals Hearts in Saturday's Scottish Cup semi final on Saturday.

It follows Jack Ross being shown the door in December despite him leading to the Premier Sports Cup Final and finishing third last season.

However, Commons reckons the Hibs board should have been preparing for a massive summer overhaul rather than wielding the axe for a second time this season.

Having played alongside Maloney at Parkhead and with Scotland, he reckons that his former teammate could have turned it around if he had been given time.

Commons reckons the board are putting the club through a "constant cycle of transition" ahead of another overhaul in the summer.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, he said: "I understand that results haven't been great. But this still strikes me as a ridiculous decision from owner Ron Gordon.

"When you appoint a rookie head coach, you surely have to understand that it might take some time for them to get it right. You are making a commitment to someone and there needs to be a degree of patience.

"Maloney was never going to provide a quick fix. He was never going to walk in and reinvent the wheel from day one. He needed time but Hibs simply weren't willing to give him any.

"Which makes you wonder what on earth the point was in giving him the job in the first place if you're just going to sack him after four months?

"I feel sorry for Maloney. I know him