by Stuart Crowther

Date: 31st May 2002

Donald parts with typical grace Park quits Easter Road for the second time HE MAY HAVE BEEN A JAMBO, but there are few Hibs fans that Donald Park did not manage to win over in his two spells as a coach at Easter Road.  Now the likable Park has once again left Easter Road, this time by 'mutual consent', but his parting is bound to send a slight shiver through those many fans who know just what effect he has had on Hibs youth programme over the years. Having worked with Alex Miller, Alex McLeish, Franck Sauzee and of course Bobby Williamson, Park was the one major constant in the development of young players at Easter Road over the years.  When he took over at Easter Road, Jim Duffy made many mistakes but quite probably his biggest gaffe was to dump Donald Park.  During that disastrous spell for Hibs, the Under-21 and Under-18 squads almost fell into anarchy, and it was no real surprise then when the first signing made by Alex McLeish and Andy Watson when they arrived at the club was to bring Park back to sort things out.  And sort things out is exactly what he did, with players such as Kenny Miller, Tom McManus and Garry O'Connor three who have made the breakthrough and cite Park as the major influence in their careers. Happier days for Donald Park and Franck Sauzee When McLeish departed, Park it was who stepped into the breach and nobody was more surprised that Donald when days later Franck Sauzee was handed the keys to the Boss's office and insisted that Donald Park be his assistant.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and it is perhaps that which rang the beginning of the end for Donald, as 69 days later Sauzee departed, Bobby Williamson brought in his own coaching team and there seemed no room for Donald Park in the new regime.  Park will have known that himself, and it was more a matter of finding a settlement on his contract than finding a job for him to do at Easter Road.  The news yesterday then came as no real surprise to anyone, nor indeed will the manner of his departing, Donald thanking everyone at Easter Road and insisting the parting was one of sorrow but on good terms. The official closure on Donald Park's time at Easter Road came in a simple statement from Donald: "I have enjoyed my time at the Club a great deal, in particular my time working with the young players at u-21 level. I am parting on good terms and wish the Club every success in the season ahead and would like to thank Bobby Williamson, Jim Clark and Gerry McCabe for making me feel a part of the new management team, and also Rod Petrie for all of his help and support." Petrie himself thanked Park for his work at the club, but any statement from the managing director has to appear hollow, as the true worth of Donald Park will only be measured in a years to come.  Players nurtured by Park are already breaking into the Hibs first team, and in the current financial climate these are the only future Hibernian have. Will the new management team be as successful in this area that Park has been?  Again only time will tell, but a sore reminder if it is needed of just how good at his job Donald Park is came the last time he walked out of the door at Easter Road, the atmosphere dropped to freezing and you would be hard pushed to remember any players who came through the Duffy era unscathed.  The last time Donald left, there were one or two ill-informed Hibs fans who said good riddance, he was after all a Jambo.  This time nobody is so foolish, as the evidence of Donald Park's contribution to Hibernian has been there for all to see.  He will be badly missed, and his successors have a hell of a lot to live up to as Donald Park will be a hard act to follow.