Manager Paatelainen Quits Hibernian

Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen has left the Easter Road club by mutual consent after 16 months in charge. He becomes the third SPL manager to leave his post in the space of a week, after Celtic’s Gordon Strachan walked away from Parkhead and Aberdeen’s Jimmy Calderwood was sacked.

According to the BBC, it is believed one of the reason’s for Paatelainen’s departure was the board’s proposal to reduce the playing budget for next season. One name has already been tipped for the job, that being former Hibs defender John Hughes, who is manager of Falkirk, however with the club just escaping relegation under Hughes’ stewardship, it is doubtful whether the Easter Road faithful would welcome such an appointment.

Hibernian finished the season on a relative high. They finished sixth in the table, and in May beat city rivals Hearts 1-0 at Tynecastle before registering impressive draws with Rangers and Celtic at Easter Road. Paatelainen’s final game in charge was the 2-1 defeat at Pittodrie on 24 May.

A statement by Paatelainen on the club’s official website says, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as manager. We have travelled a journey together and the club will always hold a special place in my heart. However, there comes a time when a change of direction is best for both parties. I thank the club and the players and coaching staff for their commitment and talent and I wish the supporters everything that they would wish themselves.”

Also on the website is a statement by Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, “Mixu has been a whole-hearted and committed manager and we are all sorry to see him go. However, we respect his decision. Mixu is held in the highest regard by everyone connected with the club and we wish him well for the future.”

Paatelainen began coaching at youth level during his second spell at Hibs and moved on to first-team duties with St Johnstone and St Mirren. His first taste of management came with Cowdenbeath in August 2005 and he went on to win the Division Three title. In October 2006 he resigned his post at Central Park to take over at TPS Turku and steered the Finnish side to a third place finish before moving again to Edinburgh.

So who should Hibs go for now that Paatelainen has left - Gordon Strachan is a Hibees fan should the Easter Road side go for him, John Hughes is he the man for Hibs, Jim Magilton who was sacked by Ipswich at the end of this season or do you have a better man for the job?