Postecoglou, a longtime mentor, is changing his coaching staff.
Nick Montgomery, the former manager of Hibs, has secured a dream transfer to the Premier League by joining Tottenham with former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou. And after just eight frustrating months at Easter Road, the Hibs leadership dumped the straight-talking Yorkshireman, who will now be joined at Spurs by longtime assistant Sergio Raimundo, to prove the worth of a footballing philosophy.
“Both Nick and Sergio have a wealth of coaching experience over a number of years,” Postecoglou said yesterday night, welcoming the two to his redesigned coaching staff. They have already shown a tremendous commitment to nurturing young players and implementing a football philosophy that will, in my opinion, enhance the atmosphere we have created. I’m excited to collaborate with them.
Since joining Hibs in September of last year, Montgomery has maintained regular communication with longtime mentor Postecoglou. Montgomery has used the Australian as a sounding board and has taken inspiration from the veteran coach to remain true to his convictions when it comes to altering the playing style of a team that is currently at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. After losing to Hibs in the final pre-split game, Monty was shocked to learn that the Hibs board had sent him a critical letter, giving him five games to save his job. He had been promised time to make the necessary changes, such as lowering the average age of the team and reorganizing the tactics of his predecessor, Lee Johnson.
With two games left in the season, he was then fired. However, according to friends, Monty remained adamant that he could have assembled a club that could compete with the Old Firm and even outperform them with an exciting brand of possession football if given enough time and help in the transfer market.
Following the departure of assistant Chris Davies earlier this month to take over as manager of Birmingham City, Postecoglou has been searching for backroom reinforcements. As the former Socceroos manager prepares for his second season in the Premier League, Montgomery and Raimundo are anticipated to play important roles.
Montgomery turned down managing positions in England, Australia, and Asia to train under one of the most intriguing football figures because he wanted to work with Postecoglou and experience the intensity of the Premier League. The former Central Coast Mariners manager, who took home the A-League championship with the lowest budget of all the teams, is eager to get back into management of his own, but he believes this is too wonderful to pass up.
Former member of Montgomery’s backroom staff and Scottish Cup winning captain David Gray has now been named Hibs manager. He will report to Malky Mackay, the new sporting director, with help from Craig Samson, Eddie May, and Liam Craig, the goalie coach.
