New Hibs DoF Brian McDermott reveals 'dark place' he feared might cost him another job in football

It's over eight years since Brian McDermott began the process of coming out “a dark place”.

The newly-installed Hibs director of football admits he feared he’d never get another job in football after going public with the inner demons that had troubled him through his career. Those gloomy times are thankfully in the past as the 62-year-old looks to bring some sunshine to Leith in his new job overseeing every aspect of football operations at Easter Road.

But he won’t ever forget that mental toil. Indeed he admits it can play a key role in his ambition to “create something special” at Hibs. Even after leading Reading to the Championship title and promotion into the Premier League less than three years earlier the now 62-year-old admits winning games as a manager was never a joy. It was purely a relief. McDermott has spent the last year giving talks on his mental health struggle and has previously spoken openly about how he’d turn to drink to help him destress after every defeat. Then it became after every game. Lose, draw or win.

Last year he revealed how everything came to a head when he was working as chief scout for Arsenal on February 15, 2015. Having drank until three in the morning he woke up “broken” and finally turned to his wife for help. He’s never touched a drop since.

The former Reading and Leeds boss accepts those mental struggles are not exclusive to him. It’s why he insists being a buffer for anyone at Easter Road is as important as any one of his other roles in the wide-ranging remit in Leith.

McDermott said: “This is really important to me. As far as people opening up - staff, players, whoever. It’s so important, if I can help somebody. Because I’ve been in a dark place, and I know what it looks like.

“I’v