Nick Montgomery's Hibs record is bang average and fans are scunnered but I'm sticking to my guns over his future, says Tam McManus

Hibs boss Nick Montgomery
Hibs boss Nick Montgomery -Credit:SNS Group


Tam McManus has thrown his support behind Nick Montgomery by insisting the under-fire Hibs boss shouldn't be sacked.

The Hibees are at risk of missing out on a top-six place this season after falling to a shock 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened St Johnstone at the weekend. It means the Easter Road club must now rely on other results on Saturday to ensure they don't finish in the bottom half of the table, with Dundee and Motherwell also fighting it out for sixth spot.

Fans let rip at Montgomery's players after dismal back-to-back defeats to Craig Levein's side and it appears some are running out of patience with the former Central Coaster Mariners boss. But ex-striker McManus reckons Monty should be given the summer transfer window to turn things around, regardless of how this campaign pans out.

He told the Daily Record: "Since the manager came in, his league record reads eight wins, nine defeats and 11 draws - bang average at best. Fans are scunnered with the team after two years of absolutely nothing. I bump into them all the time and they don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. I get that.

"Questions are being asked about whether Montgomery has the personality for the job. But I have to stick to my guns here. I'm still convinced the manager needs to be given the summer window to get it right - and that's whether Hibs make the top six or not.

"You can't keep changing managers after a year or less. That's just a cycle of failure you can never escape from. Maybe Montgomery has been fortunate the last couple have been fired pretty quickly and he's getting some leeway because of that But managers should always get two windows at least to shape their squad. Short-term pain for long-term gain... that has to be the hope for Hibs.

"When the window comes, Montgomery's priority is obvious - sort out the defence. You fancy Hibs to score in every game but defensively they are so poor. Fifty goals conceded after 32 league games is not good enough.

"And if that continues next season, it will get Nick the sack. That's got to be the priority - a couple of centre-halves and a keeper in the summer."