Renegade

The fellow off STV. Apparently, Marsella's quote of "He's not leaving" was in reference to himself.

Steve Marsella is staying!

Doesn't say if he means 'He' as in Butcher, or 'He' as in Marsella himself. If it is the latter, it would certainly verify the rumours last night that Marsella told an ICT keeper that he himself was not going to Hibs.

Sits in the stand for home games I believe. Often doing media duties and stuff, so would go to County home games as well for MFR and that.

Malpas must be away as well then, with Shearer taking training. Presume it'll be Big Dunc and Marsella in the dugout tomorrow then, if the latter's still here.

Me right now -

Don't want Robbo back myself. He's been very poor post-ICT and his constant touting for the job, including popping up on here as a poster, really comes across as desperation.

Someone on eh....that Hibs site, claims that 'the son of an ICT director has confirmed Butcher is off'. Done some research and he is essentially correct. Edit - https://twitter.com/conorbennett2/status/398575393156104192 Looks like he's off I'm afraid, and such a source would normally be a good one.

Not quite accurate. ICT were only approached for permission to speak to him on Tuesday afternoon. He would have only got full details of what was on offer yesterday. Not unreasonable for him to take a day or two to decide his future. During the whole Barnsley fiasco, you were very vocal throughout the whole thing that Butcher would stay. You said this, even during times when it looked more likely he was off, and were often a lone voice citing your belief, which to be fair, you stuck to throughout and in the end were proven right. During this saga, you've hardly said a word. Why?

Talk on Hibs.net that some Sky Sports article isn't much better, can anyone confirm?

That's what Barcelona often do. Doubt any of their coaches were sacked by Buckie though.... Did we not have someone along those lines apply for the job the last time round? Bernd Krauss or somebody? Sure he was the ex-Borussia Dortmund manager or something. Also, what about ex-Mexico manager Hugo Sanchez? I'm sure he applied for the job the Kilmarnock job when Shiels got it.

*According to someone on Hibs.net* the deal has fallen through and Butcher will be staying at ICT. This is all getting very confusing!

Whenever an ICT manager leaves, the following names are essentially guaranteed to be touted: Charlie Christie, John Robertson, Donald Park, Barry Wilson etc and the only other regular name I've not heard mentioned so far this time round is Craig Brown! The only guaranteed thing about them is that it ain't going to be any of them!

Hence why I wrote *Apparently*! Hibs.net people are saying that the deal has been agreed and Butcher is now Hibs manager. It won't be announced tonight though and will most likely be announced either tomorrow or Friday, due to Butcher and ICT not wanting him in the home dugout on Saturday.

*Apparently*, Sky Sports are reporting that Hibs have offered Butcher a three year deal.

Lesson 3: Dealing with dejection.

Was reading up about Larsson's managerial career there, and apparently he took over a Swedish Division 2 team, and started well, before things kind of went stale in the end. Apparently he plays a very attacking and aggressive style of football in a 4-3-3 formation. I could certainly be persuaded over having him as manager. Aron Winter came to Toronto FC promising this very style of football (Ajax style) and it became very evident, very quickly that TFC just did not have the players to cope with a 4-3-3 and that it did not work well in MLS against teams with a more traditional style. He was also too stubborn to modify it. Its a very specific system that requires players with specific abilities and when you are playing other teams who stick to a formation with 4 at the back and 1 or 2 up front it can be a nightmare .... looks good when things are going well, but falls apart if one or two players have an off day or are played out of position ... not convinced it would work in the SPFL. Foran and Draper both have pretty good engines on them and would be box-to-box midfielders either side of Ross (or latterly Polworth) as the deep-lying playmaker in the middle. I think it could work. On a candidate having been sounded out already, I heard rumblings during the Barnsley thing, that Ross Jack from Elgin was lined-up to take over with Charlie Christie as assistant, had Butcher left. Probably nonsense though.

From what I remember, he was still on the coaching staff at Blackburn at the time and went off the job when he found out he'd have to move to the Highlands!

I know it's not always reliable (Hibs.net), but here it is anyway - One person claims that Butcher will announced as the new manager at 1850 today and that announcement won't be made until "a couple of things are sorted out", some on there are speculating that it is the compensation to ICT that is holding the announcement back.

IIRC someone here met Pele around the time his book came out (it may have been a book signing) and asked him if he'd ever consider coming back to ICT. He replied: "It would be a dream come true".

I seem to recollect an interview with Marsella a while back which said he and Butcher can find it quite frustrating when they really want a player, but don't have a big enough budget to sign him. Make of that what you will.

Was reading up about Larsson's managerial career there, and apparently he took over a Swedish Division 2 team, and started well, before things kind of went stale in the end. Apparently he plays a very attacking and aggressive style of football in a 4-3-3 formation. I could certainly be persuaded over having him as manager.

Someone's reporting on the Hibs site now (I know I know!), that Butcher will take over as manager on Thursday on a three year deal, and will take Steve Marsella with him, though apparently an 'issue' has arisen with Malpas, though he is expected to join them as well.