Steven Naismith reacts to Nick Montgomery Hibs sacking as Hearts boss opens up on reality of management

Steven Naismith raised an eyebrow but there was no shock at hearing Edinburgh rival Nick Montgomery had been sacked by Hibs.

The Hearts boss offered sympathy over a dismissal he claims is typical of ‘crazy’ expectations and insists a template for managerial survival has been written at Tynecastle which trigger-happy boards should follow. Grumbles of discontent around Gorgie last December had Naismith under the cosh from sections of his own support which included a heated AGM where his future was discussed and a shareholder claimed the football was ‘embarrassing’ and ‘horrific’.

But after being backed by Hearts powerbrokers, the 37-year-old has secured a third spot Premiership finish with their highest points tally since 2006 and two cup semi-finals. After Montgomery cleared his desk at Easter Road, the Jambos gaffer admits watching Davie Moyes being replaced as West Ham boss was another jaw dropper.

He said: “When a manager comes in a third of the way through a season and loses his job by the end of it, could you say Nick had a fair shot at it? I’m not sure he has. Am I surprised? I probably am. He didn’t even get the full season. Where the club was when he took over, you could tell it wasn’t going to happen overnight. Earlier in the season, people suggested I was under pressure. It’s the nature of the industry now. I don’t think it’s right.

“We are showing what can happen if you have everybody on the same page. You have everybody inside the club understanding – even when it’s not going well – why decisions were made and where you think you can get to. We had that and it has worked out really well for us. It’s the norm now. That’s how it feels. No matter the amount of work you do, at no point can you really feel you’ve