Source: FOOTYMAD
Thanks For Nothing: Calderwood
Which manager wants to hear public support from their board? Not many when they are in a slump Colin Calderwood was not pleased to receive the dreaded vote of confidence from his board after another defeat at the weekend. These statements usually precede a swift exit by the manager. This is not what Calderwood has on his agenda as he is determined to get his side to end their winless run which now extends to 10 games. The prospects look grim for the run to end this week with Rangers coming to call on Wednesday evening. Granted, one of Calderwood's two wins in charge of the Easter Road side was a 3-0 win at Ibrox. But with 10 defeats in 15 games since he arrived, the former Northampton and Nottingham Forest manager must be feeling the pressure. Hibs chief executive Scott Lindsay underlined the board's support for Calderwood last week. Asked whether he welcomed the public show of support, the Easter Road manager said: "Not particularly, no. The only reason you're hearing it is because of the sequence of results. I know exactly where I stand with the board, I've got a good relationship with them. They understand and they're very helpful. We've got to have results and we've got to make sure we're not in the trouble we're in at the minute and move away from that quite quickly." Merouane Zemmama did not help matters when he missed a penalty in last Saturday's 2-0 loss at Motherwell, extending Hibs' barren run in front of goal. They have not scored this year and the last time a Hibs player found the net was when Paul Hanlon scored an 89th-minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Dundee United on December 29. Calderwood went on: "It's a very unwanted record. We've got to persevere. We had one very good chance - the penalty kick - and those are important moments." Hearts showed how to beat Rangers on Saturday but hat does not really help their city rivals. Rangers rarely lose two games on the bounce and the team from along the M8 will not want to leave Edinburgh without three points twice in five days. Calderwood does not anticipate a repeat of the victory at Ibrox which gave him his first win in charge, but is optimistic of success. He said: "Do I see us as runaway winners? Probably not. Do I see us winning the game with a goal? Probably yes. We've got to focus on what's ahead of us. The lift it would give if we score a goal and the lift it would give if we got a win, it would take us in the right direction." Hibs' defending has left former defender Calderwood perplexed at times, but he retains faith in goalkeeper Graeme Smith despite the less than convincing display at Fir Park. Smith could be joined in the squad by Matt Thornhill, whose move from Nottingham Forest is set to be confirmed imminently. The midfielder trained with Hibs at their East Lothian training centre yesterday, but has been undergoing treatment for an ankle injury and is unlikely to be in the starting line-up against Rangers. Calderwood added: "It's all organised. It's not signed. Because of an injury we're just assessing how long that injury's going to be. We've got to be secure in our own minds that there's going to be no problem once the deadline finishes. We're very hopeful. Knowing the player, he's a tough individual and the problem is more irritating than a serious problem." Calderwood, who dismissed reports of a move from Burnley for Derek Riordan, maintains he is continuing to work hard to augment his squad. He added: "It's been very busy and the first thing you do after a training session is pick up your phone and there's always one or two messages. "There's been lots of contact with agents, but a lot of it is pie in the sky." Swindon defender Jean-Francois Lescinel has also been linked, but Calderwood played it down. He said: "There has been a conversation about him. The name was mentioned, as were probably 150 others and it's an agent not doing his job properly." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
