Former Hibs defender insists Lee Johnson is the right man for the job and issues Kevin Nisbet warning

Former Hibs defender Sol Bamba insists Lee Johnson is the right man for the Easter Road hotseat – but the decision to bring in a director of football is a sensible move.

The former Middlesbrough man was giving his thoughts on his former club during an appearance on Sky Sports, and also spoke about interest in Kevin Nisbet and his current form as well as the likely departure of Ryan Porteous.

"I think it’s the right decision to bring in a director of football, because that can take a lot of weight off Lee’s shoulders so he can focus on the pitch – and that’s where he is very good. He’s a very good coach, he likes to coach his players, and I think it will be good for him to have somebody upstairs looking at bringing players in and taking them out as well,” Bamba said.

"Hibs are a big club, people don’t realise that. When the results aren’t good, straight away you are under pressure, but I think they’ve got the right manager, and I think if they appoint a sporting director or similar it will help Lee and help Hibs.”

Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous celebrate Hibs' win at Motherwell earlier this month

Nisbet has been linked with a move away after scoring seven goals in six games on his return from a ten-month spell on the sidelines and Bamba insists his importance to Hibs cannot be underestimated.

“He’s done so well to come back from his knee injury and score seven goals in six. I daren’t imagine where Hibs would be without him. If they let him go and don’t replace him with someone as good as him, it’s going to be difficult for them but at the same time, when Celtic or Rangers come calling it’s difficult to turn them down, especially for ambitious players who want to play at the highest level. It’s difficult – so far Hibs have said ‘no’, but it will be interesting to see if he’s still there at the end of the window.”

The 25-year-old has 18 months left on his current contract and fans are already clamouring for the Capital club to offer him new terms to avoid a similar scenario to Porteous, who turned down a bumper new offer in search of a new challenge, and looks likely to leave this month.

Bamba continued: "It depends on the club and the player. If he wants to go they’ll probably sell him because he’s in the last 18 months of his contract. If not, they’ll probably give him a new contract so that if they do eventually sell him, the money will be higher, so I’m sure the conversations will have been taking place.”

Sol Bamba in action for Middlesbrough against Barnsley last season

Porteous has been linked with a string of clubs in Belgium, England, France, and Italy with English Championship promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers taking a good look at the Scotland internationalist.

"Blackburn would be a good move for him. Hibs won’t be happy to lose him but I guess he will want to test himself elsewhere,” Bamba added. “Blackburn would be a good club for him but it’s up to him as well, and Hibs. He’ll be a big miss for them but it would be a big move, and a good move, if he did come to Blackburn.”