SHAUN MALONEY has opened up on his “difficult” time as Hibs boss.
And while he revealed that he struggled to achieve what he wanted at Easter Road, he insists the experience will be “invaluable” to the rest of his managerial career.
Maloney took over from Jack Ross in December 2021 but didn’t even last until the end of last season after he was axed following Hibs’ 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Edinburgh rivals Hearts in April.
He has been linked with a return to management since, with Dundee reportedly an option before Gary Bowyer took over the role in June.
Maloney reckons his time at Hibs will help him succeed wherever he ends up next though as he believes the tough introduction into management will help him grow in his career.
On his time at Easter Road, he told the Daily Mail: “It was a difficult experience. But I think it will be invaluable for me.
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“I have a real fondness for the club, I love the history and the passion of the supporters. I will look back on it in a few years as a big learning experience.
“I hope the club can go and achieve what the supporters want.
“I was at big clubs that held extraordinary pressure so I was not disturbed by that at Hibs.
“I got knocked down. I get back up. I need to be better. I will be.
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“I have taken this on board and travelled Europe, been down to Championship and League One games, to see how teams produce chances.
“I want to give my next team the best opportunities to score goals.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has been hit with TWO SFA charges after branding Ryan Porteous a ‘cheat’.
He also claimed the Hibs defender of ‘conning’ referee David Dickson to get Dons loan star Liam Scales sent off late in the first half last Saturday.
Speaking after the match, Goodwin said: “I don’t know what Liam Scales can do when Ryan Porteous grabs him in a headlock and drags him to the ground.
“I don’t know how many times the boy Porteous can get away with that kind of stuff.
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“We’re telling our players in midweek to be careful with him in the box, be careful with him at set-plays and don’t touch him as he will go over.
“We showed our players a number of instances when Porteous has won penalties like that in the past.
“People will say he’s good at it and he’s clever. But it’s blatant cheating as far as I’m concerned and it’s cost my team points.
“I told him to his face after the game what I thought of him. I don’t care what he reads in the paper on Sunday and Monday.
“He knows. He’s laughing about it. He celebrates winning penalty-kicks like he’s scored a goal.
“Listen, he’s a good player. He got his international recognition last week, but I just don’t know how people can be fooled by it continuously.
“I actually had a laugh and a joke with the referee prior to the game to make him aware of it.
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“Unfortunately just before half-time he was sucked in hook, line and sinker. Bought it.”
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