Donald is
a reluctant hero
Park rejects consideration of the
main job - STUART CROWTHER
DONALD PARK REMAINED
a very reluctant Hibs hero last night, as the Easter Road caretaker
boss insisted he was not interested in taking the job full-time.
While
the Hibs.net poll continued to reflect 70% support from the fans
for Franck Sauzee to be named as the new king of Easter Road, with only
Tommy Burns so far offering up any serious opposition with nearly 20% of
the vote yesterday, Park is quietly getting on with and enjoying the task
of preparing Hibs for the trip to East End Park tomorrow. "I
don't want the job and Hibs know that, but I'm still enjoying the
experience," Park said last night, the man who has guided stars such
as Kenny Miller, Tam McManus, Gary O'Connor, Ian Murray happy to remain in
the job he loves, coaching youngsters.
There
is however a growing undercurrent of support for Park to take a step up,
if not to manage the club to at least consider doing so in a joint role,
perhaps with skipper Sauzee. As a member of the Hearts side famously
crushed 0-7 by Hibernian at Tynecastle on New Years Day nearly 30 years
ago, Park is probably the most unlikely candidate for such popularity down
Leith way. He has however carved out enormous respect not only from
the players he has had in his charge but from the Hibernian support who
have seen for themselves the results of his labours. And that
perhaps is precisely why many in the Hibernian support believe that Park
should be persuaded to change his mind.
John O'Neil - played through the flu agonies! (sns)
Park
is probably the most unassuming character in the Scottish game, keeping
out of the limelight and only a few years ago he was offered the chance to
become assistant manager at Dunfermline under then boss Dick
Campbell. Park refused to move then, convinced by Alex McLeish to
remain on the coaching staff at Easter Road - and now on Saturday he finds
himself in charge of Hibs as they take on the Pars, no doubt hoping to
retain much of the spirit shown at Ibrox on Wednesday evening. "It
was a memorable experience at Ibrox," Park
said, adding: "I would describe
it as pleasant, especially getting such a good result at Ibrox - although
that second-half went on for a very long time! Now I'm looking
forward to Saturday and going to Dunfermline. I obviously don't know
how long I'll be in charge, but until someone else comes in I'll do my
best for this club.
"I
will remember Wednesday for a long time. I was so delighted when the
goal went in but I have to admit when it did I turned to the rest of the
bench right away to ask how long to go. I would have loved to have
heard the final whistle there and then but, to be honest, I couldn't have
asked for any more. There were guys out there like John O'Neil who
are dying of the flu but still ran their hearts out."
The flu bug remains around Easter Road but Park is giving nothing away on
who will and will not be available for selection on Saturday. Ulrik
Laursen is still recovering from the injury that counted him out of the
visit to Glasgow, while Craig Brewster is a long-term injury.
On the
sidelines will be Franck Sauzee, who is expected to have returned from
France in time for the game - and Hibs fans hope talks over his future at
the club on an enhanced level. Park had a call from Sauzee after the
Ibrox clash, the caretaker boss saying: "Franck
phoned me after the game and was obviously delighted we had come away with
a point. I know the fans were chanting his name during the match and
I can understand that because he is a wonderful player with great
experience."
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