One Premiership boss in scathing Shaun Maloney verdict as he’s branded deluded and out of his depth

It was only a matter of weeks into his tenure as Hibs boss that the Shaun Maloney sniff test started to stink.

Saturday night, a random text from one Premiership boss detailed his impression of that afternoon's counterpart which didn't make for comfortable reading.

To paraphrase, a certain deluded arrogance, detached and not offering the respectful air and grace a rival manager would expect.

This gaffer just wasn't having him, his rant also included an out-of-his-depth reference and a something about having ideas above his station and appointing his own PA.

A surprising read in all honesty as Maloney has always appeared the mannerly type, extremely quiet and unassuming as a player and polite when accepting an invite to be interviewed as a coach.

Then a few rumours started to seep out from within the Easter Road inner sanctum. Off the record comments about players not buying into the methods of a regime which had replaced the universally popular Jack Ross.

Having a purist’s style of play is no crime but falling into the trap of trying to reinvent the wheel when organisation and getting a team to do the basics better was the priority at their time of need.

A confidence shredding season needed a more direct instruction into a dressing room where things were coming apart at the seams.

Baffling tactical masterplans were now the talk of the steamie.

Call it a former player's instinct but there's also the Steve Kean factor which was also an issue of concern as it was thrown into the mix.

The former Blackburn Rovers boss had been brought in as academy director during predecessor Ross’ reign and it felt like a bizarre piece of recruitment. "A role which completes the structure of our football department,” said Hibs CEO Ben