Nick Montgomery: Hibs sack head coach

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

So, after achieving just 12 wins in his 37 games in charge, the Hibs board have bitten the bullet and decided to end Montgomery’s tenure.

It really should come as no surprise given the board’s history in moving managers on after failing to live up to their expectations since Neil Lennon left in 2019 having lifted the club out of the Championship and back into the top half of the Premiership and a European place.

Jack Ross, in fairness, lasted two years but was sacked 10 days before a League Cup final.

Shaun Maloney lasted just 19 games in the Easter Road dugout, while Lee Johnson was there an entire season before his exit was sealed after an abject start to this current campaign.

Montgomery arrived with a glowing reputation after leading Central Coast Mariners to the A-League title, but after a steady start, the failure to reach the top six for the season run-in and a humbling at home on Sunday to Aberdeen sealed his fate.

The question has to be asked why there is such a high a turnover of managers at a club that has just about everything in place to ensure success.

The training ground is the envy of some others in the top flight, they have one of the best stadiums in the country with a huge fanbase and money to bring in quality players.

So why is it not working and who do they turn to next?

Club legend Gray will be in interim charge for the fourth time, so is there a chance he could be catapulted into the job on a permanent basis?

The board may look at the success a ross the city of Steven Naismith, a rookie who has led Heart of Midlothian to a comfortable third place in the league.

Or will they look at the experience of Derek McInnes or Stephen Robinson and the excellent jobs they have done at Kilmarnock and St Mirren respectively this season on a smidgen of the budget afforded to the Hibs boss?

Lennon brought success to Hibs when he arrived in the summer of 2016 and, as things stand, is available for hire. He would undoubtedly steady the ship, but would the fans accept him back again?

Some potential candidates may be put off by that very high turnover, but the pressure is on Hibs’ board to get it right for the long-term this time.