'Hibs is a wonderful platform' - Michael Stewart praises the appointment of Jack Ross

Former Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart has praised the club's appointment of Jack Ross, labelling it a "good fit".

The club introduced their new manager to the media on Monday afternoon following confirmation that he had taken the job on Friday.

It means Ross, who led St Mirren to the Championship title in 2017, has only been out of the game 38 days since his sacking from Sunderland on 8 October.

Jack Ross was appointed Hibs manager on Friday. Picture: SNs

The appointment was swift following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom earlier this month with the side 10th in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Stewart has backed Ross to be a success at Easter Road.

"I think he’s a good manager," he said on Monday's BBC Sportsound programme. "Clearly intelligent, he understands the business he is in. It’s effectively down to him to get results and that will ensure he is in the job long-term.

"My gut is that it's a good fit. He’s a young, hungry manager that looks to play football in the right way. They (Hibs fans) want to see teams that are playing nice, good, attacking football. I think that is instinctively what Jack Ross wants to do.

Michael Stewart has backed Ross to be a success. Picture: SNS

"As much as an appointment can be successful before it even begins, I think this has the hallmarks of a good partnership.

"Hibs is a wonderful platform for him to reassert himself as a top manager because they are at the moment in a terrible position in the league which can be remedied fairly quickly. And, with a couple of additions in January there is a basis of a very good squad.

"So he can quickly get Hibs back to a level where there is progress made."

Jeopardy

Stewart added: "This is a vital job. If he doesn’t sort it at Hibs, and he doesn’t do a good job there, then his whole career as a manager is in jeopardy. But if he gets it right he is off and running again."

Former Scotland assistant manager Peter Grant expressed his dismay regarding Ross' sacking from Sunderland, believing he deserved more time at the club.

He departed with the side sixth in England's League One after narrowly failing to steer them back into the Championship in his first spell.

Grant said: "I don't think he struggled. It's a very big club, I thought he did a wonderful job in the circumstances."