Nick Montgomery to Hibs compensation fee revealed as Aussie lays out ambition to challenge Celtic and Rangers

Hibs will have to pay just over £50,000 to finalise Nick Montgomery’s switch from Central Coast Mariners.

Record Sport revealed last month that the A-League-winning boss was a major contender to replace Lee Johnson. The Hibs’ hierarchy have held positive talks and also agreed terms with Montgomery. That is nothing new, as in the last process, before they appointed Johnson, they also agreed terms with those on their final short leet.

It is expected that Montgomery will land the gig, having interviewed well and received positive feedback from the majority of the Hibs’ support. The Easter Road club know to finalise the deal they will have to pay 100,000 Australian dollars to activate his release clause from the Mariners. Montgomery has made it clear to Hibs that if he takes the job he will be looking for them to kick on and to eventually challenge Celtic and Rangers.

The former Scotland under-21 cap is ambitious and wants to shake the capital club out of their recent slumber. Montgomery would take in assistant Sergio Raimundo in as his No. 2 with David Gray remaining as first-team coach.

He would also work closely with director of football Brian McDermott. As of Tuesday night, sources close to Montgomery insisted that nothing had been finalised or signed with Hibs.

Hibs have also been impressed with Montgomery with the success he has had on one of the lowest budgets in the A-League. He has not only played in an attacking style but also constantly sold and developed stars, like Lewis Miller at Hibs, Aberdeen’s James McGarry, Australian World Cup star Jason Cummings and Kye Rowles at Hearts.

Montgomery has also sold Garang Kuol to Newcastle and Sammy Silvera to Middlesbrough in the summer. Hibs cut their short list to