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Hibernian: Paul Heckingbottom appointed as head coach

Last updated on .From the section Hiberniancomments59

L-R: Paul Heckingbottom, Leeann Dempster and Robbie Stockdale
New Hibs boss Paul Heckingbottom (left) with Leeann Dempster and Robbie Stockdale

Former Barnsley and Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom has been appointed Hibernian's new head coach.

The 41-year-old Englishman has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract and will be assisted by former Scotland international Robbie Stockdale.

He succeeds Neil Lennon, who left the Scottish Premiership club last month.

"There is so much potential here and the club has everything going for it; I will give everything I have to be a success," said Heckingbottom.

"I'm looking forward to getting to work and meeting the players and staff on Thursday, before stepping up preparations for Saturday's game against Hamilton."

Heckingbottom was sacked by Leeds in June after only four months in charge, having finished 13th in the English Championship.

He had joined from Barnsley, who he led to promotion from League One and the Football League Trophy.

The former defender with Darlington, Norwich City, Bradford City, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Mansfield Town, joined Barnsley's backroom staff after completing a degree in sports coaching.

After initially coaching the club's development squad, he had two stints as caretaker manager before signing a permanent contract in 2016.

He agreed a new deal in February 2018 but joined Leeds just a few days later. His tenure at Elland Road lasted for 16 games.

"Paul made a really positive impression on us from our first meeting with him," said Easter Road chief executive Leeann Dempster.

"His work at Barnsley speaks for itself, where he was able to combine the kind of dynamic, attacking football our own fans appreciate with the development of some talented young players.

"With the structure we already have in place, Paul is the right person to embrace that support and take it to a new level."

Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom was sacked after four months with Leeds United

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59 comments

  • Comment posted by User0771794632, at 11:18 14 Feb 2019

    Good luck to Paul and Hibs.

    Love him or hate him , Hibs and Scotland will miss Neil Lennon.

  • Comment posted by Calder, at 10:34 14 Feb 2019

    Leeds was a big mistake but it took guts to go there, good luck to the guy and to a great club.

  • Comment posted by Socrates, at 10:38 14 Feb 2019

    I guess most Hibs fans won't know a great deal about him but will be willing to give him a chance. Perhaps it's a bit of a gamble by Hibs, and he has a hard act to follow in Lennon, but if he can get Hibs into the top six again he'll have done well.

  • Comment posted by D1710952657632, at 11:33 14 Feb 2019

    You have to give the guy a chance

  • Comment posted by Captain Kilt, at 13:39 14 Feb 2019

    @37 even in a story about hibs you're obsessed

  • Comment posted by Mutchy14, at 12:45 14 Feb 2019

    If Heck brings the same enthusiasm he did at Barnsley then Hibs will do well, strong squad just needs fresh ideas, Lennon brought the Hibs fear factor back. Heck needs to rekindle that initial spirit. People referring to the Leeds stint are obviously forgetting the shambles that went on in the background also which didn't help. A strong Hibs makes for a much more competitive top 6.

  • Comment posted by Calder, at 13:56 14 Feb 2019

    @41 Average in England is a very high standard for anything English...if you can find any that is, try the conference bottom half.

  • Comment posted by Calder, at 12:50 14 Feb 2019

    @28 When will it happen in England ?

  • Comment posted by Graham McDonald, at 20:55 14 Feb 2019

    Great appointment. Very similar to the Tony Mowbray appointment several years ago. Wishing them every success.

  • Comment posted by Machman, at 11:38 14 Feb 2019

    PENALTY TO RANGERS!!!!!

  • Comment posted by Tiler, at 11:48 14 Feb 2019

    I have worked in Barnsley and Leeds and I wouldn't go back to Leeds on treble overtime or even if my life depended on it.

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 13:04 14 Feb 2019

    Good appointment. He is a decent manager and will do well there

  • Comment posted by gothenburg1983, at 13:49 14 Feb 2019

    Good luck to hibs. An honest club with a rich history. Not the biggest fan of Neil Lennon but he did a great job there IMO. Good luck Mr heckingbottom.

  • Comment posted by Navarro, at 14:01 14 Feb 2019

    Youve got to admire this platform for those that dont have a voice. You can see why they dont have a voice or platform as they shouldnt be allowed out the house, more to be pitied than scorned.

  • Comment posted by Calder, at 11:13 14 Feb 2019

    Stockdale has worked with a wide and varied selection of managers, he must have picked up something. They will do fine if they can stop that woman signing the players.

  • Comment posted by objectif, at 15:51 14 Feb 2019

    Welcome to Scotland and may I wish you every success in your new role - just not against The Mighty Dons!

  • Comment posted by kingkam, at 11:12 14 Feb 2019

    A little bit of a gamble no pedigree or form to determine whether he wil be a success or a failure
    Lennon will be hard to follow however he is as we know flawed obviously crossed the line and the writing was on the wall as results showed
    For teams such as Hibs in the second tier of spending in Scotland going to be difficult
    I would like to see all teams in Scotland play at least 80% Scottish

  • Comment posted by Bam bam, at 15:02 14 Feb 2019

    No 31 - Yes, and Hibs have been immaculate in the background for the last decade! Rod Petrie has been a god send and The inability to get Michael Appleton because they wouldn’t pay notice was down to him! They are a mess in the background too! Still, let’s see who hibs get as a new manager in The summer!! 😂

  • Comment posted by AndyB_MOT, at 11:31 14 Feb 2019

    7 "Didnt get a chance at leeds.....but lets face it...leeds would probably sack gaurdiola...they are a shambles"

    Yes he did. He took us from the play-off places to a bottom-half finish in three months. After sacking him, the same group of players are now top.

    I don't agree with the speed we've gone through managers but Heckingbottom was simply dire and had to go.

  • Comment posted by Abershandy, at 12:43 14 Feb 2019

    I hope he has been briefed that if he plays sevco or septic his team will be playing against 12 men!

    Good luck to him, he'll need it.