Hibs’ Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom insists that he will not comply with the fans’ demand that he resigns from the club following Saturday’s disappointing draw with Ross County.
For the fifth game in succession, Hibs dropped points after taking the lead and Joe Chalmers’ strike beat Chris Maxwell sparked a furious response and a mass exodus from the frustrated supporters.
Chants calling for the Yorkshireman’s head rang round the stadium and the final whistle was greeted with a chorus of booing from the fans left inside the stadium.
This is the second occasion that Hibs have squandered a two goal-lead at home as St Johnstone also came back to secure a point when Hibs looked certain to win.
Heckingbottom watched the game from the director’s box in the Main Stand due to a three match ban following his dismissal against Celtic.
Hibs now sit second bottom of the table and face Livingston at home on Wednesday night before another trip to Hampden to face on-form Celtic in the semi-final of the Betfred League Cup.
After the game Heckingbottom was asked whether he wound be considering his position and replied: “Absolutely not. I can’t demand more from the players and then give less myself.
“Hearing the fans, it’s not nice, of course it’s not but it’s part of the job.
“We have to fight and stand up. It was infuriating. At least I can change my tune a bit and moan about a missed chance and giving away a fantastic position.
“I’ve had frustrations at decisions that have cost us before but that was just us today.
“We’re two up and their first goal changes it, then when it goes to 2-2 suddenly it’s us with the energy again.
“For me that shows it’s a mental approach to the game that costs us. It was a kick in the teeth and we can’t look at anyone other than ourselves. The apprehension you could hear was evident on the pitch as well.”
When asked whether Wednesday’s game against Livingston falls into the ‘must win’ category he responded: “They are all must wins. Does pressure build? Yeah it builds. Does each game becomes more important? Yeah.
“This is why you can’t wait for anything. We can’t get 2-0 up and hope the ref blows his whistle, you can’t, you have to go and see the game out – 95 minutes, however long it is.
“The Aberdeen game, if we put that to bed then we wouldn’t be talking about this because we wouldn’t have these issues.
“We have had opportunities before this. Some have been out of our control and we have to take them on the chin but this has been ours.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
