Pat Fenlon knows he has a job and a half on his hands after being unveiled to the media as Hibs latest manager. He is looking to stabilise the club by transforming as he gets the players and fans back on the same side. Fenton has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract which will mean he moves to Edinburgh from Bohemians until the end of the 2013/14 season. Fenlon won five league titles and three cup competitions during his nine-year career as a manager in Ireland and takes over from Colin Calderwood, who was sacked after just a year in charge following 12 wins in 49 games. The long-term future of Billy Brown, who was in caretaker charge and overlooked for the appointment, is uncertain, but he will be in charge of the team for when they travel to Perth to meet at St Johnstone. Fenlon will be watching from the stands as no doubt making lots of notes. Fenton is manager number five in 10 years at Easter Road- following the likes of Alex McLeish, Tony Mowbray, John Collins, Mixu Paatelainen and John Hughes into the Easter Road dugout - but is looking to be there for the long-term
He said: "Results are important and that's the goal immediately - to try to change that. We've got to try to get a bit of togetherness back in the club, with the players, everybody else and the supporters. That's what we'll try and build in a short period of time." Asked whether this is the biggest challenge of his career so far, Fenlon responded: "Very much so, it's a big club and a big club that's not playing well at the moment and struggling. It's a challenge to take them up the table, definitely. I'm here to work hard and try to put the thing right. There's been too many managers and the turnover is too much for a club like Hibs. That's something I've got to try to stop. It needs a bit of solidity. If you keep chopping and changing it's difficult to get that."
Hibs chairman Rod Petrie was keen to underline Fenlon's successes in Ireland and Europe with Shelbourne and Bohemians, whose current financial predicament meant they released him from his contract. Petrie was also keen to highlight Hibs' achievements - among them having the most top-six SPL finishes outside of the Old Firm in the last seven seasons. Hibs finished 10th last season and the lacklustre start to this terms sees them ninth entering this weekend's games. Top six is clearly the minimum aim and Fenlon accepts if he does not achieve the club's targets, his position will be under threat. Nevertheless, Fenlon, who in January 2010 saw a move to Dundee United blocked over a compensation payment, was unperturbed - intimating he had outgrown Ireland and was attracted by the potential of Hibs. He said: "It's a great opportunity to come and manage at a higher level. It's a better league, better players, a fantastic football club. The stadium's fantastic, the training ground's fantastic, but you've got to get results on the pitch and that's what we've got to try to do."
Hibs have one home league win since February - a September win over St Johnstone - and Fenlon is determined to rectify the results at Easter Road. He added: "Playing at home has become a bit of a problem for them (the players). That's something we've got to work on, to give them the confidence to come and play here. What better place to come and play football. That's what they've got to get back to, just enjoying their football and playing at home. Getting the people behind you rather than after you."
Hibs have been accused of being lightweight, but Fenlon insists that will change and he will take his time to assess his players. He said: "They certainly won't be soft under me. We'll work on that and the only way to work on that is by working hard on the training ground. We'll rectify that fairly quickly. I firmly believe there are some really good players. We need to get a bit of confidence back in and get them to start believing in themselves a bit more."
The Hibs board have sanctioned money to be made available if Fenton thinks new faces are required in the fast-approaching January transfer window. Initially, it appears he is in no rush to overhaul the squad. He said: "It's not something that we're worried about at the moment - it's six weeks away. The first thing we want to do is see what type of player we have and can we get more out of them, which I firmly believe we can."