Steve Evans addresses next Hibs manager claims as Bristol Rovers boss 'flattered' by Easter Road rumour
The former Leeds United gaffer has addressed links to becoming next Hibs manager.
Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans insists he’s flattered to be linked with becoming the next Hibs head coach- but the former Leeds United boss would only come back to Scotland for one club.
The 63-year-old was one of the first names to be touted as a possible contender for replacing David Gray at Easter Road, who was sacked midweek. From Glasgow, Evans has not been in Scottish football since retiring from playing at St Johnstone in 1986, building substantial experience down south. He’s managed Leeds United, Rotherham United, Peterborough United and more, now at the helm of Bristol Rovers in League Two.
Hibs have not approached Rovers to discuss talks with Evans amid reports linking the Edinburgh club with the veteran coach. He has been asked about the claims following his side’s 3-0 loss at Gillingham that left his team seventh in the fourth tier of English football after seven games played. Evans, a Celtic fan, says there’s only one team that’d tempt him north again.
Will Steve Evans become Hibs manager?
He said: "Yeah, listen, the facts are that I'm humbled to be linked to a job like that because if you're a Scotsman, you know how big a football club that is. But as I told our owners, when the news first broke, I'm not going anywhere. I've come here to deliver on a project.
“Doesn't feel like that driving home this evening, but, yeah, my commitment is to this football club, and I've often maintained there's only one club that will take me to Scotland. And if they ever did ring, I'm in the car. That doesn't take away the fact that I'm flattered and humbled by being linked to Hibernian Football Club, but there's been no contact. So, it's not been generated by me, for sure."
He added after watching his side suffer defeat: "Yeah, listen, we never saw the second-half coming, did we? I think we've probably edged the first-half - had more possession. Four opportunities in the final third without really taking advantage of them. And then we seem to go to pieces after the goal, you know. It's a simple header away, and we missed the header, and the same player sends someone outside, and we're 1-0 down, and then you're living to fight here, because this is a decent Gillingham side, as we know, they've had big investment.
“So we're having to work ourselves back into the game. And the second goal is, it's a simple one-two in the middle of the park, cross and finishes off our centre backs and scores. And then I'm not concerned about then afterwards, because then it's, we're having to throw caution to the wind and throw players forward. But we need to learn and learn very quickly that if you don't do the basics right in League Two, you'll stay in League Two."