Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  Scottish Football  |  Topic: Hibs search for new boss

by Clive Lindsay  


John Rankin says he and his Hibernian team-mates were left "gutted" by the departure of manager John Hughes.

Hughes left the club on Monday after a poor string of results running into last season and with Hibs sitting tenth in the Scottish Premier League.

"The manager was very popular in the dressing-room," said Rankin.

"There were no divisions at all. Everybody was behind the gaffer 100% and the players have to take a huge part of the blame for the results."

Rankin believes luck has not been with Hibs this season as they recorded just one win in their first seven league games.

But it was a 2-0 defeat away to St Johnstone that eventually led to Hughes' departure and the midfielder said: "We were poor on Saturday and we have to look at ourselves. We have let ourselves down."

Rankin, though, pointed out that Hughes had led Hibs to fourth place last season and qualification for the Europa League.

"Last season, we did fantastic to get finish in fourth spot. He came in and the expectations were obviously to get into the top six, but the gaffer obviously produced the goods," he told BBC Scotland.

"At one point, you are actually looking to split the Old Firm, but the wheels came off the bus and we struggled for a while, but it was no reflection on him."