Collins A Risk For Hibs?

So Hibs have now unveiled their new management team of John Collins and Tommy Craig. I wonder how much of a risk this move represents?

Appointing managers with little or no experience is a dangerous game in football. They tend to go one way or the other in a very extreme way. When things go well, those who made the appointment are praised to the high hills for such an inspired move and are often lauded as geniuses. However when things don’t quite turn out for the better, they are slaughtered for not appointing someone with a proven track record and called stupid.

To be fair to the Hibs board, they made a similar appointment when they plumped for Tony Mowbray. Despite some experience as a coach at Ipswich Town, Mowbray was untested in the world of management and many an eyebrow was raised when he got the job at Easter Road. In fact many people ridiculed the Hibs board for bringing him in, particularly those of a maroon persuasion who instantly leapt upon the former Celtic defender’s unproven record, not to mention his ‘distinguished’ facial features! But just look at how well Mowbray did. Considering the lack of resources the guy had, he did a marvellous job with Hibs and the legacy he leaves Collins and Craig is still considerable, even despite the departures of Derek Riordan and Gary O’Connor.

John Collins has always struck me as being a pretty intelligent guy. For a start, as a player he was not one of those guys who leaves to sign for the Old Firm as soon as he got the chance. I remember they were sniffing around him when he was in his very early 20’s when he played for Hibs, but instead of going at the first call, he had the gumption to realise that he was better off staying where he was to get more experience of first team football, which he couldn’t be guaranteed in Glasgow. Then a couple of years later, when he was an established Premier League player, he got the chance he knew he’d get again and signed for Celtic when he was ready to do so. How Derek Riordan could have benefited from a similar attitude to Collins.

Collins went on to have a very successful and lucrative career, that saw him leave Celtic at the right time (unlike Paul McStay!) to try his hand in Europe with Monaco and then finishing in the Premiership with Fulham. He also played for Scotland with distinction for several years.

However being a bright guy with seemingly good credentials will not necessarily make him a successful manager. Only time will tell on that front, but as a Jambo I do honestly wish the guy all the best. We have our own problems just now but I’m still hopeful that we can continue to challenge at the top of the league in years to come. That can only be helped if Hibs can continue to be a force as well and be another team that the Old Firm have to worry about – the more teams in the mix at the top, the more chance there is that someone different can take the Championship.

Obviously though, I wish Collins all the worst for a certain cup-tie on November 8!