Sunderland Exclusive: Hibernian hold talks with Lee Johnson

By Wayne Veysey

11th May, 2022 | 1:22pm

Sources: Ex-Sunderland manager Lee Johnson holds talks with Hibernian

Former Sunderland boss Lee Johnson has been interviewed for the Hibernian manager job, Football Insider understands.

The Scottish Premiership outfit are searching for a new manager following the sacking of Shaun Maloney last month after just four months in charge.

An industry source has told Football Insider that Johnson is among the frontrunners for the Hibs job and early talks have taken place.

The former Bristol City manager, who was sacked by Sunderland in January, has experience of playing in Scotland during spells at Hearts and Kilmarnock.

The 40-year-old left the Black Cats after a 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers and was replaced by Alex Neil who has guided them to the League One play-off final.

Hibs’ need for a new manager was further highlighted on Tuesday night (10 May) when they were beaten by bottom side Dundee 3-1.

Interim boss David Gray has only won two of the seven games he has taken charge of across two temporary spells as manager this season.

Former Sunderland manager Jack Ross began the campaign in charge before being sacked just before their Scottish League Cup final defeat in December.

Maloney replaced him but was dismissed after they missed out on a top-six finish and were beaten by Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Hibs are currently eighth in the Scottish Premiership table and could finish as low as 10th if results go against them.

In other news, a finance guru has issued a ‘£200m’ Sunderland claim amid takeover latest after he’s ‘done some digging’.