Kevin Thomson: No points, but Fenlon a good manager

KEVIN Thomson described Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon as “a good man and a good manager” after losing to Hearts yesterday, but accepted that poor results could cost the boss his job.

The midfielder also said that he and his team-mates had to shoulder some of the blame for a start to the season in which Hibs have lost their first four matches without scoring a goal, and added that Jimmy Nicholl had been “a breath of fresh air” since moving to Easter Road as Fenlon’s assistant manager in the summer.

“The manager is quite happy to carry the can,” Thomson said. “But for me, it’s down to the eleven boys he picks. We have to stand up and take a bit of responsibility.

“The manager is a good man and has brought in good players. We could have been sitting here with a good start to the season but, unfortunately, we are not. The European game [a 9-0 aggregate defeat by Malmo] has hung over us a wee bit.

“I wouldn’t like to say we’re fragile, because we certainly are not. But it looks as though we’re just desperate for three points to get the season up and running.

“The fans pay their money and are entitled to their opinion – some of them will think I’m a good player and some think I’m rubbish. That’s the industry we’re in, and some people will like the manager and some people won’t. He is big enough and brave enough to take the flak on the chin. We’ll go in tomorrow, work hard and try to get three points next week.

Asked if he hoped Hibs stuck by Fenlon, Thomson continued: “For the players, it does not involve us. Since I’ve been here, I think he’s a good man and a good manager.

“The appointment of Jimmy Nicholl has been fantastic. He has been a breath of fresh air, but it’s a results business and as players we have to stick together and get results. Hopefully, the manager will see the rewards of bringing in some good football players.”

Hibs were the better team for much of the second half and might have won, Thomson said. But he added that Hearts had some good players who should not be underestimated merely because of their lack of experience.

“The boys are disappointed to have lost, because in the second half we felt we had the upper hand and could have gone on and won the game. But unfortunately for us, the boy [Dylan McGowan] put a great ball into the box and it was a great header, so we are beaten again and it is disappointing.

“I don’t have the answers. We are working hard and trying our best. The effort is there for everybody to see, but we have now had two games we could have won and lost them both and have no points.”

Taken from the Scotsman