Hibs sack boss Terry Butcher

adamhigginsuk
Jun 10, 2014
3 min read

Living dangerously: Butcher's position was always under threat during the terrible run towards the end of last campaign and in the close season after their unexpected relegation (Picture from SNS Group)

HIBERNIAN have sacked manager Terry Butcher after just seven months in charge as they prepare for life in the Scottish Championship.

The 55-year-old left Inverness Caley Thistle to join the Leith club in November, replacing Pat Fenlon following his resignation.

But Hibs won only one of their last 18 league games and were subsequently relegated from the Premiership, for the first time in 15 years, after a play-off final defeat on penalties to Hamilton Academical at Easter Road last month.

Former England captain Butcher, who signed a deal until the summer of 2016, had met with chairman Rod Petrie and newly-installed chief executive Leeann Dempster 24 hours before the announcement.

The board unanimously agreed on Tuesday to end his tenure as boss and Dempster said in a statement on the club’s website: "I am genuinely saddened that we have had to take this tough decision.

"Sadly, for a variety of reasons, perhaps including unfortunate timing, it hasn’t worked out for Terry here."

Ex-Motherwell and Brentford manager Butcher was hired to improve on a disastrous start to the season for Hibs under Fenlon and took over on November 12, inheriting a side sitting seventh in the top-flight.

Results were initially optimistic with four wins from his first seven games, the last of which was victory over Hearts in the New Year Edinburgh derby.

But following that, Hibs won just once in the regular season - a 2-1 home success against Ross County in February - before a final day defeat by Kilmarnock consigned them to the play-offs.

Hibs won the first leg 2-0 at New Douglas Park but lost the return at home by the same scoreline before coming out second best in the penalty shoot-out.

The day after relegation was confirmed, Butcher released 10 first-team players including club captain James McPake, who was not involved in the run-in despite insisting he was fully fit to play after a back injury.

Now, Dempster, having left her role at Motherwell at the end of last term, will lead the search for the club’s third manager in just under a year.

She added: "It may have taken longer than we all would have liked but I felt it was appropriate that we met properly and had a full discussion before any decision was made.

"Now we need to move forward and act to bring in a new manager with the aim of getting us promoted back to where Hibernian belong, in the top league of Scottish football, from a uniquely competitive Championship.

"Our first aim must be to try to win the league and gain promotion automatically.

"The search now begins to find and appoint the next manager, and while we will try to keep supporters updated regarding the process as much as we can, I know they will understand that we need to be professional in all that we do.

"Unfortunately, assistant manager Maurice Malpas is abroad on holiday at present and I want to meet him on his return to explain the situation at the club."

VIDEO: Interview with Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster

BUTCHER: HIBS RECORD

(In all competitions)