Nick Montgomery wants the change to be good for Hibs as long-serving players move on

Nick Montgomery insists Hibernian must view the upcoming transition period in a positive light as they prepare for life without club stalwarts Lewis Stevenson and Paul Hanlon.

This week it was announced that the long-serving duo – who have both been in the first team for more than a decade – will leave after the expiry of their contracts at the end of this season. Hanlon, 34, made his Hibs debut in 2008, while 36-year-old Stevenson’s bow came in 2005.

Montgomery, who spent the vast majority of his own playing career at Sheffield United, acknowledged that Hibs are losing “two good characters, ultimate professionals who have made many sacrifices for the club” but said the club must embrace change even if it feels “ uncomfortable”.

“It’s quite rare in football these days,” the manager said of their time in service. “I speak on my own terms: I spent 15 years at one club and played 400 games, so I understand their situation. I basically left overnight and that was it, you move on to the next chapter.

“Paul and Lewis have been great servants of the club and they will leave with all the blessings from me and the club. They will always have a place at this club, they are legends of the club, and they will undoubtedly move on to the next chapter of their lives and I’m sure some of it is exciting.

“And for us as a club there is a lot of change in store. You just have to move on, because tomorrow is another football day.

“It was also a decision of the club, together with the players. There were discussions going on and we felt this was the right decision and we are moving forward. Change is difficult, it is uncomfortable, people are sometimes resistant to change, but change is also good, it is really a good thing, something very positive in the future.”

Stevenson and Hanlon are the last remaining members of Hibs’ respected 2016 Scottish Cup-winning squad, but Montgomery challenged others, such as Chris Cadden, to lead the team forward as they prepare to integrate a new crop of new players this summer.

“The key now is that we have some guys who have been here for a while, like Chrissy Cadden for example, and they now have to continue to carry the mantle of Hibs player and understand what the club is about,” Montgomery said.

“You have to bring in players and tell them very clearly from the start what the club stands for and what to expect. We need players coming to this club who can handle the pressure and expectations that come with playing for a club like Hibs.

“Look at Myziane Maolida for example, he came in January and he is now the team’s top scorer and Emiliano Marcondes is another player who has really gotten close to the fans through their efforts.

“My job is to make sure that every player who comes in knows what the club stands for and that may not have been the case before, hence the huge number of players we have loaned out.

“Some may be for development reasons and some may be because they may not have been able to cope with the pressure of playing for a big club. “We know we now need to focus on having a strong first-team squad so we can ensure we have the strongest possible team on the park and on the bench.”

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country