Hibs chief to pick her new manager this week

Hibs chief Leeann Dempster has revealed she hopes to have a new manager in post at Easter Road within five days.

Dempster spent much of last week working through over 40 applications for the job from “across the UK” and is understood to have already interviewed the leading candidates.

Given Hibs’ pressing need to begin building a squad for next season’s tilt at the Championship, Dempster appreciates she is under pressure to make a quick appointment.

But she insists her main priority is to make sure the Leith club’s latest manager is, for the first time in years, the right man for the job.

Asked whether she hoped to have that man in place by this Friday, she said: “Clearly that would be ideal.

“The sooner we can get this recruitment completed, the better, no doubt about that, but we don’t want to sacrifice the quality of the person.

“My whole attention is focused on it. We’ve had over 40 applications and there are individuals we added to that list.

“That was finalised late last week, but I can’t really say how short the short list is because things can develop, names can come in and that can sometimes re-focus you.”

Dempster also moved to assure fans that under-fire chairman Rod Petrie will play no part in the interview

process, amid continuing unrest amongst Hibs fans over his position at Easter Road.

She insisted: “I’ll be doing it myself, but I’ll be asking another Board member to attend. Will that Board member be Rod Petrie? The answer to that is no.

“It’s important to hire the right person and I need to take that responsibility on my own.

“It’s important to take someone else with me though, because I don’t know everything about the football club.

“I’ll take a strong recommendation to the Board and I would be very disappointed if they don’t support that.”

Meanwhile, Demspter hopes to convince scout Steve Marsella, who arrived at Easter Road with Terry Butcher, to remain at the club.

Marsella also served as goalkeeping coach in a dual role under Butcher, and while Dempster does not see him continuing on the coaching side, she insists he can play a part in rebuilding Hibs.

She said: “Steve has a high hit-rate, as you put it, I’ve met him once and had a conversation with him this week.

“He is coming in tomorrow and we are going to have another conversation about how we use his skills. But I see him as a valuable part of the club moving forward.”