Under-fire Hibs’ boss vows to stay and fight

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.”