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Collins confirmed as Hibs manager Collins confirmed as Hibs manager
(about 4 hours later)
Former Scotland midfielder John Collins has been named Hibernian manager. Former Scotland midfielder John Collins has been named Hibernian manager with Tommy Craig his Easter Road assistant.
Collins, 38, has signed a three-year deal and succeeds Tony Mowbray, who moved to West Bromwich Albion earlier this month. Collins, 38, has signed a three-year deal for his first management job since his retirement as a player in 2003.
The position is Collins' first management job following his retirement from playing with Fulham in 2003. He said of Craig: "Tommy was my first coach at Hibs when I was a kid and guided me in the right direction before I followed him to Celtic."
Hibs chairman Rod Petrie told the Edinburgh club's official website: "John is a man with talent, ambition, drive and determination." Mark Proctor, who took over temporarily after Tony Mowbray's move to West Brom,retains a place in the backroom team.
Collins delighted to be back at HibernianCollins delighted to be back at Hibernian
Collins has vowed to continue the work carried out by former Celtic team-mate Mowbray and has been impressed with the progress shown by Hibs in recent seasons.
He added: "It is a great pleasure to be here. It is where it all started for me as a player and I look forward to starting my management career here.
"We have a good group of young players, a good stadium and the supporters have come back in their numbers in the last few years.
"I am following a good manager, who has done a terrific job, and, hopefully, I can take the club forward."
Hibs is where it all started for me as a player and I look forward to starting my managerial career here John Collins
Hibs chairman Rod Petrie told the Edinburgh club's official website: "John is a man with talent, ambition, drive and determination."
Petrie said Collins was the perfect role model for the Hibs players and revealed that he had turned down a number of opportunities to become an assistant boss.Petrie said Collins was the perfect role model for the Hibs players and revealed that he had turned down a number of opportunities to become an assistant boss.
I'm delighted to be taking up the managerial position at Hibernian and returning to the club where I started my football career John Collins
"John has spent three years preparing for today. He has all the technical qualifications, including a Uefa Pro Licence, which means he could be considered for any job in Europe," said Petrie."John has spent three years preparing for today. He has all the technical qualifications, including a Uefa Pro Licence, which means he could be considered for any job in Europe," said Petrie.
"John decided that he wanted to be a manager in his own right and turned down a number of opportunities to become a coaching assistant.
"John has the ambition and character to be a top manager. We have a talented group of players and a tremendous infrastructure at the club. John joins us at an exciting time."
Collins said he was relishing the prospect of taking charge of his former club.
Collins was a success at Hibs before moving to Celtic in 1990Collins was a success at Hibs before moving to Celtic in 1990
"I'm delighted to be taking up the managerial position at Hibernian and returning to the club where I started my football career," he said.
"This is a club of tremendous stature with a great tradition for playing entertaining and attacking football.
"I would like to let the supporters know that my philosophy is all about playing a passing game with passion, enthusiasm and commitment.
"Supporters want to win and they want to be entertained. It is our job to give them that."
Collins' former team-mate Joe Tortolano said he was confident he would be a success at the club.
FANS' FORUM Of the list of people who were in the running he was the best choice ScottofB Fans' Forum: Have your sayFANS' FORUM Of the list of people who were in the running he was the best choice ScottofB Fans' Forum: Have your say
Tortolano played with Collins for five years at Easter Road before the former Scotland midfielder joined Celtic in 1990. Petrie added: "John decided that he wanted to be a manager in his own right and turned down a number of opportunities to become a coaching assistant.
"He used to crack up if the ball was booted up the park," said Tortolano. "He has the ambition and character to be a top manager. We have a talented group of players and a tremendous infrastructure at the club. John joins us at an exciting time."
"His experiences playing abroad will help him and I heard he studied the coaching methods at Barcelona too."
Former Newcastle and Celtic coach Tommy Craig is expected to be named Collins' assistant and Tortolano said he would be a good appointment.
"Tommy is vastly experienced. When I went to Hibs in 1985 he was assistant to John Blackley and he is a very good coach. He will help John," Tortolano added.