Hibs legend Rob Jones throws hat in the ring for management job

League Cup-winning captain keen on management role

Rob Jones, who captained Hibs to League Cup glory in 2007, is on the hunt for his first managerial position

Former Hibs captain Rob Jones has signalled his interest in the vacant managerial position at Barrow.

The Evening News’ sister title the Sheffield Star is reporting that the 40-year-old has put his name forward to succeed Ian Evatt, who took the reins at Bolton Wanderers earlier this month.

Jones, who made more than 100 appearances for Hibs over three years, has been working part-time with Middlesbrough’s academy, and is believed to have applied for the head coach role with Swansea City’s Under-23 side.

He has also been working as a coach at the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA), but is keen to take up a management role and threw his hat into the ring for the Hibs job following Neil Lennon’s exit in January last year.

The former defender still makes the occasional visit to Easter Road and took a RIASA XI to East Mains in October 2018 for a match against Hibs’ development side.

Speaking to The Star, Jones – who captained Hibs to League Cup success in 2007 and scored the first goal in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock in the final – confirmed he had applied for a number of roles, adding: “There’s a few things out there that I’m looking at, but like everyone else it’s about being given the opportunity and being given that chance to show what you can do.

“I’ve got a lot to give, a lot of knowledge and a lot of expertise on that side, so hopefully something will fall sooner rather than later. You’ve got to apply, apply, apply. And in this modern era, a lot of it already seems to be done.

“I’ll keep pushing and I’ll keep trying. One will come off sooner rather than later.”

The towering centre-back, who left Hibs for Scunthorpe United in 2009, had a brief spell as caretaker-manager of Doncaster Rovers in September 2015 which he admits “whetted his appetite” for management.

He added: “I’d love [to be a manager]. Whatever level that is, I think I’m ready to be a manager. It’s a burning desire.”

Barrow were promoted from the Vanarama National League – the fifth tier of English football – after clubs voted to decide the final tables on a points-per-game basis following the shutdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.