Marink Reedijk's path to instant Hibs belief as David Gray factor impacts tough start
Why Dutch boss is struggling to win over Hibs fans after replacing popular predecessor
Marink Reedjik is facing an uphill battle to win over Hibs supporters, with the new head coach struggling to build the trust and belief that helped his popular predecessor David Gray enjoy greater patience at Easter Road.
And Cillian Sheridan has suggested the Dutchman’s lack of an established connection with the club and its support has made it easier for fans to turn against him during a difficult start to his tenure, while questions linger over whether the 34-year-old is attempting to change too much, too soon.
Reedjik arrived in the capital tasked with taking Hibs up another level, but results and performances have yet to provide the convincing start needed to bring everyone onside.
Sheridan believes the contrast with Gray, who enjoyed considerable goodwill from the Hibs faithful, is an important factor in the scrutiny facing the current manager.
“No, I think that's probably justifiable,” Sheridan said on the BBC’s Scottish football podcast when discussing the criticism directed at Reedjik. “I think he's probably in a tricky position where he's come after someone who the club and fans had so much love and patience for as well with David Gray and belief that probably if he was in this situation, as we saw the last two or three seasons, when he kind of knew they'd get through it or they'd come out of it.
“Whereas when it's someone who's coming in who has no real affiliation with the club or fans, there's not that want from them that's kind of, they want to give him time. I think it's probably easier to get on his back straight away when it's someone that they've no connection with.”
The David Gray factor making life difficult for Reedjik
Gray's connection with the Leith club helped provide a degree of understanding during challenging periods, with supporters prepared to believe he could find a way through testing circumstances. Reedjik, by contrast, has had little opportunity to establish that same emotional bond, leaving his early results and tactical decisions under greater scrutiny.
Sheridan suggested he could be making life more difficult for himself by trying to implement too many changes before results have begun to improve.
“He's maybe coming in and just trying to change too much and trying to play [a different style],” he added. “It's tough when a new manager comes in and replaces someone that everyone got along with and liked. “It's a bit harder to take on board what he's trying to do.”
The challenge facing any incoming manager is significant when replacing someone who proved popular with players and supporters alike. New ideas can take time to settle, but patience becomes harder to maintain when performances fail to deliver immediate encouragement.
And Sheridan believes that lack of early success can quickly undermine a manager's authority, particularly when players are being asked to adapt to a different approach.
He explained: “Unless you're getting instant results, it's hard to really believe in what he wants to do. It's easy if he comes in in the first game to go and win 3-0 and it's fantastic football, all the players straight away will buy into it and will trust him and believe him. It just doesn't seem like that's quite there yet.”
Where does Reedijk go from here?
Hibs need results to ease the pressure, but the problem extends beyond their points total and lowly position at the foot of the Scottish Premiership table. Reedjik must now prioritise rebuilding confidence among the dressing room and in the stands. He needs to convince fans that his methods can deliver progress and long-term success.
He must also give players sufficient reason to trust the direction in which he is taking the team. Until that happens, Reedjik is likely to remain under the microscope, with the goodwill afforded to Gray proving difficult to replicate.