Hibs appoint Malky Mackay to key role on day of change at Easter Road

Hibernian have appointed Malky Mackay as the club’s new sporting director, just hours after Nick Montgomery was sacked as head coach.

Montgomery was removed from his position after a failure to secure a place in the top six in the Premiership, followed by back-to-back defeats to Ross County and Aberdeen.

Mackay will lead the search for Montgomery’s successor in charge of the first team as part of a remit that includes overseeing all of the football operations at the club.

The Scot comes into a football department where Brian McDermott is currently sporting director.

Hibs say the former Ross County manager will be responsible for “all departments from recruitment through to the academy” and that his role will be “will be integral to sporting performance, allowing the head coach to succeed on the pitch.”

Mackay’s appointment comes a month after Hibernian had announced that they were conducting a full review of the club’s football structure in conjunction with Black Knight Football Club, who became major investors earlier this season.

Black Knight, headed by American billionaire and Bournemouth owner Bill Foley, purchased a significant Hibs shareholding for £6m and hope to make Hibs a successful and key part of their football network.

That investment is expected to be used for improvements on and off the field, with the review identifying areas for development.

Extensive changes are expected in the playing squad and throughout the club this summer.

Majority shareholders the Gordon family said in a statement: “We’d like to welcome Malky and believe he will be a huge asset to our club and the football department.

“As the board conducted the football review, it became clear to everyone that not only did we need someone with experience of the Scottish game, but also a person who could help drive us forward both strategically and operationally.

“Early in the recruitment process Malky discussed his strategic vision for Hibs and the necessary framework to deliver success. Everyone at the club looks forward to working with him.”

Mackay has been out of work since leaving Ross County in November with the club sitting second bottom of the league.

The 52-year old has also previously managed Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan, and was also Scottish FA performance director from 2016 to 2020.

Mackay was at the centre of controversy in 2013 when he was sacked by Cardiff after messages of a homophobic, racist and sexist nature, sent by Mackay to his head of recruitment, were made public.

Though the FA didn’t punish the manager, he did undergo diversity awareness training and Mackay has said that the matter is in the past and that he hopes people draw their own conclusions from his work since then.