John Welsh
While the appointment of Pat Fenlon as manager of Hibernian FC may not have created worldwide media headlines, it could represent a significant coup for the Easter Road outfit. Faced with a battle to avoid relegation from the Scottish Premier League (SPL), Hibernian have entrusted Irishman Fenlon with a difficult challenge, but one which could underline his undoubted capabilities and prove a masterstroke.
Despite a top four finish in the 2009/10 season, Hibernian have struggled to mount a serious challenge in the SPL. A poor league showing last year has been followed by even more dire results in the current campaign, leading to the departure of manager Colin Calderwood. With home attendances averaging below 10,000 and a wafer thin margin separating them from basement club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the Edinburgh outfit will want to avoid a repeat of the relegation season of 1998.
For Hibernian and city neighbours Hearts, the eternal inability to compete with Glasgow Old Firm Celtic and Rangers has been the source of much frustration over many decades. Hibs have had their moments in history, especially when becoming the first British side to play in Europe in 1955; the Scottish side also took advantage of the generous qualification rules for the Inter Cities Fairs Cup to further their European exploits in the 1960s, at a time when Celtic and Rangers were also demonstrating their European pedigree.
Since the 1970s however, Hibernian have rarely threatened to make a mark on Europe or break the Old Firm dominance. Aberdeen and Dundee United briefly challenged the Glasgow stranglehold in the 1970s and 1980s, but in recent seasons Celtic and Rangers have cemented their position at the forefront of Scottish football once again. This has arisen despite the pair’s increasing frailties in European competition and there appears to be no immediate threat to the Ibrox and Parkhead duo.
Motherwell, under the guidance of Stuart McCall, are within striking distance of the leading two in this season’s SPL and are striving to close the gap even further. Meagre attendances at Firs Park of around 5,000 though may prevent Motherwell from competing with the Old Firm on a long term basis, but by instilling a winning mentality in the team, McCall is demonstrating that the gap is not insurmountable.
In confirming Pat Fenlon as team boss, Hibernian have finally secured the services of a manager with a similarly positive outlook to McCall. Widely known as ‘Nutsy’ for his constant ability to nutmeg opponents during his playing days, Fenlon had a successful spell in charge of Irish outfit Shelbourne Rovers before moving to Bohemians.
Shelbourne won the League of Ireland title on three occasions under Fenlon’s stewardship after which he made a brief ill-fated move to Derry City in Northern Ireland. When the 42-year-old was appointed manager of Bohemians in December 2007, the club had been experiencing a serious downturn in their fortunes. Fenlon immediately introduced a more professional approach to training and reaped the benefit a year later when the ‘Bohs’ won the Irish league and cup double, the latter with a record 19-point winning margin. And the title was retained the following season, prompting Dundee United to make an unsuccessful approach for his services.
The general malaise within the Irish economy affected Bohemians thereafter, and with Fenlon being forced to accept a much reduced budget, the Dublin club were unable to maintain their title winning form. When over 100 applications were received for the recent vacancy as Hibernian manager, it was Fenlon’s which held sway over the others.
Hibs chairman Rod Petrie says of the diminutive Irishman: “He is a winner and a successful man at a young age. He’s won five championships and has been involved in the Champions League and Europa League as a manager”.
For Fenlon, the Hibernian post is viewed as a “fabulous challenge”. He added: “From speaking to people, we’ve got to try to get the supporters back onside, and the players have got to go and enjoy their football here”. When Fenlon watched from the stands as veteran coach Billy Brown oversaw a 3-1 defeat at St Johnstone in driving rain, he must have contemplated the difficult task ahead.
The Irishman could not have asked for a more difficult start, as a trip to high-flying Motherwell followed by home match against Rangers will provide a serious test of his managerial credentials. But as Fenlon has stated: “Everything is in place for me to kick on, get the team playing and move up from where we are”. If the up and coming manager begins on a positive note, perhaps some degree of optimism may return to Easter Road.
The Scottish Premier League certainly needs a manager with the vision to challenge the relentless monopoly of the Old Firm. Celtic and Rangers have made recent approaches to join the English Premier such is their exasperation with the standards of their fellow rivals, while it has even been suggested that the lack of credible alternatives to the Glasgow teams is responsible for creating the current perceived malaise in Scottish football.
If Pat Fenlon can produce another winning formula at Hibernian, the Edinburgh club may not be the only benefactors in Scotland.
