Source: FOOTYMAD
Calderwood Looks Forward
There will be challenges ahead for Colin Calderwod with high expectations of the Easter Road fans to satuisfy The new man in charge of Hibs, Colin Calderwood, believes the fresh nature of his new role can benefit both himself and the club. Stranraer-born Calderwood won 36 caps for Scotland and played in EURO96 and the 1998 World Cup, but the Easter Road post is his first football job in his home country. Calderwood began his playing career at Mansfield before enjoying success at Swindon, Tottenham and Aston Villa. His managerial career has seen him win promotion with Northampton and Nottingham Forest, before being sacked from his City Ground post in 2008. That gave him the opportunity to work in the Premier League with Newcastle either side of a title-winning season in the Championship as Chris Hughton's assistant. However, he could not turn down the chance to take control of a club in the SPL. After signing a three-year contract Calderwood said: "I always wanted another go at being a manager. Being a coach and assistant to Chris was a wonderful opportunity and we had a super year last year, but I always had an eye on being the number one and setting my own agenda. It's top-level football. Although my experience has given me a lot of games, I have developed as I did as a player, starting in the lower leagues and coming through. That experience will be invaluable. It's tremendously fresh, I'm really looking forward to it. The newness will obviously bring a little bit of the unknown but with that I don't have a jaundiced opinion of anyone. I've done all the leagues in England - not so long in the Premier League as we have only just started the season - but this is something that has really whetted my appetite." Calderwood was one of the contenders the last time Hibs were looking for a new manager, less than 18 months ago, but chairman Rod Petrie elected to appoint John Hughes, who led the club into Europe but a run of one win in 10 games this season saw him part company with the club two weeks ago. The likes of Billy Stark, Michael O'Neill, Pat Fenlon and Steve Clarke had been linked with the post but Hibs approached Calderwood on Friday and a deal was quickly wrapped up. When asked about the previous chance of getting the job Calderwood said: "I don't know if I almost became the manager. There is a time and a place and it was a terrific decision at the time. I fully understood what happened before. My situation developed quite nicely. I think it worked out perfectly for all concerned." Following the inappropriate path taken by Gordon Smith when George Burley was introduced as Scotland manager, Petrie interjected at this point to stress that Calderwood was his preferred choice, after pointing out he had helped teams to promotion in three out of six seasons with a managerial win rate higher than 45 per cent. Petrie said: "It's important to say that we had interest from all four corners of the world. We gave careful consideration to candidates but you just have to look at the statistics I mentioned. He has had success at all levels of the English league. The fact he was part of a management team in the Premier League, the fact that his knowledge of players at all levels might be useful to us as we develop the squad, there was no doubt that Colin Calderwood was the number one choice." Petrie was less forthcoming when asked about his decision to remove Hughes from his position. Petrie said: "I think that's an inappropriate question at this time. We're here to announce Colin Calderwood as our manager and charting the right way forward for our football club." Calderwood becomes the HIbs eighth manager in less than nine years but Petrie insisted there was stability at Easter Road. e said: "The last six years the club has been consistently in the top six, we have won a cup, we have got to cup semi-finals, we have played in Europe on a number of occasions. So we have a real platform at this football club and stability, and Colin Calderwood is the right man to take us forward." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
