Everton have given Hibs permission to approach Alan Stubbs to discuss the managerial vacancy at Easter Road.
The former Celtic defender has been on the coaching staff at Goodison for six years and was briefly considered for the manager’s job at the club following the departure of Davie Moyes for Manchester United.
Stubbs has made no secret of his wish to go into management and is bound to be interested in the Hibs job which became vacant after the sacking of Terry Butcher.
The Easter Road gig has become the toughest in Scottish football with John Collins, Tony Mowbray and John Hughes among the victims of the disastrous Rod Petrie regime at the club.
Leanne Dempster has replaced Petrie as chief executive but with the SFA blazer still at the club in the role of chairman supporters are suspicious over whether Dempster or Petrie are calling the shots.
Ian Murray of Dumbarton was the early favourite to replace Butcher but has been joined by Mark Venus, who was assistant to Mowbray, as a contender for the job.
Murray would be the popular choice to bring supporters back on-side but the club has resisted an early appointment with the approach for Stubbs suggesting that an extensive search is being undertaken.
Whoever takes over faces a tough task restoring the fortunes of the Leith outfit who will join Hearts and Sevco in the second tier next season.
With Hearts securing a CVA to avoid the shame and humiliation of liquidation the Tynecastle side have the early momentum with former Celt James Keatings among the new faces at the club.
Whoever takes over from Butcher will have to rebuild the squad with fourteen players freed at the end of last season leaving very few time served professionals to work with.
