Conroy says Fenlon can prove huge success with Hibs

PAT FENLON is expected to be confirmed today as the new manager of SPL side Hibernian.

The former Bohemians manager is understood to have agreed a three and a half year deal with the club to replace Colin Calderwood, who was last night confirmed as assistant manager to Chris Hughton at Birmingham City.

Having seen a proposed move to Dundee United fall through last year, Fenlon will relish the chance to prove himself in Scottish club football, though he knows he will have to hit the ground running to reassure Hibs supporters for whom the 42-year-old Dubliner - for all his glittering success as a player and manager in Ireland - arrives as an unknown quantity. But former Hibs star, Mick Conroy, who enjoyed huge career success with Celtic and Cork City, believes Fenlon has the strength of character to work his managerial magic at Easter Road.

Conroy said: “Pat has done well in his managerial career. He’s handled the expectation when he had a few quid to spend at Shelbourne and he’s rebuilt a club which is on its knees at Bohemians.

“He’s gone about it all in a very professional manner and done fantastically well. As he showed in going up to play with Linfield, he has a deep strength of character. He’s a feisty guy. No-one could walk all over him.”

Conroy was also impressed with how Fenlon handled the disappointment of seeing a proposed move to Dundee collapse. “He showed great self-esteem and integrity. There was no throwing the toys out of the pram. He got on with his job and never made a great issue about it, he just went back to Bohs, where he has done a great job over the past 18 months in the face of adversity.”

Fenlon has also received the backing of Sean Dillon, the Dundee United defender who played under him at Shels in the league-winning team of 2006.

“I have no doubt he will be a big success over here,” said Dillon.

“You look at all that Pat has achieved in the game in Ireland, yet that was always against the backdrop of financial problems. You can only imagine what he could have done if he didn’t have all those worries and hassles and he should get that chance at Hibs.

“It’s a huge club with potentially a massive support, they have great facilities and an amazing training ground. I suppose all he has to do now is prove how good he is by winning matches.”

Fenlon could get his first chance to do that as early as tomorrow against St Johnstone or, if caretaker boss Billy Brown retains the reins, then on Friday week when Hibs, fourth from bottom in the SPL, face Motherwell.