Nick Montgomery under Hibs manager consideration as Central Coast Mariners boss eyed as Lee Johnson replacement option

A-League-winning coach Nick Montgomery is being considered for the vacant Hibs job.

The Central Coast Mariners boss is one of the names being looked into by the Easter Road hierarchy to replace Lee Johnson, who was sacked yesterday. Montgomery has already attracted previous Scottish Premiership interest from Motherwell but they were unable to convince him to make the switch from down under. The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Central Coast Mariners since 2021 since he stepped up from assistant manager.

Montgomery has operated with one of the lowest budgets in the A-League but defied the odds by winning the A League Grand final last season. The former Scottish under-21 international has also developed and moved on a number of players in his time with the Mariners. Aberdeen recently signed left-back James McGarry and Hibs previously took Lewis Miller from him. Hearts star Kye Rowles and Dundee United’s Mark Birighitti are others who have swapped Central Coast Mariners for the Premiership.

He also sold Garang Kuol to Newcastle United before they sent him up on loan to Hearts last season. The Jambos were also keen on attacker Sammy Silvera but he decided to head for Middlesbrough this summer.

Another big one was Jason Cummings. He took him after his release from Dundee and saw him become one of the top scorers in the A-League, make the Australian World Cup squad and then win a big-money move to India.

The Hibs board have some ideas in mind but are also accepting applications. The likes of Fleetwood boss Scott Brown, Neil Lennon and St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson have all been linked with the vacant position.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell is another who has worked wonders on a shoestring at Fir Park and