Updated 16.28
MANAGER PAT FENLON has left Hibernian following fan protests and calls for him to be sacked.
Fenlon came under renewed pressure this week as Hibs crashed out of the league cup against Edinburgh rivals Hearts.
His contract, signed in November 2011, was due to run out at the end of this season.
But following discussions with chairman Rod Petrie, Fenlon said that he had taken the club as far as he could.
“I have come to the view that the time is right to let someone else build on the progress that has been made,” Fenlon said in a club statement.
“I believe I am leaving the club in better shape than I found it and in doing so I hope I have contributed to the club’s rich history.”
Assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl will take charge for Sunday’s SPL trip to Motherwell.
Fenlon was Bohemians manager when he was approached by Hibs and appointed on a two-and-a-half year deal to succeed Colin Calderwood in November 2011.
After he steered the club to safety, the season ended in disappointment with a 5-1 drubbing against Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final.
Hibs finished seventh in 2012/2013, Fenlon’s first full season, and reached a second cup final where they lost 3-0 to Celtic.
That cup run guaranteed them a place in the qualifying round of this year’s Europa League where they suffered a club record 9-0 aggregate loss against Malmo.
Hibs are currently seventh in the SPL table after 11 games but Wednesday’s league cup loss against their struggling rivals sealed Fenlon’s fate.
