New Hibs sporting director Malky Mackay has defended Ian Gordon’s involvement in player recruitment, arguing that as the representative of the majority shareholders, Gordon should play an active role in club operations. Mackay emphasized that the Gordon family has never signed a player against the wishes of a Hibs manager.
Ian Gordon, the son of the late chairman Ron Gordon, previously served as Head of Recruitment at Hibs. He relinquished this role when Brian McDermott became director of football last May, moving into an executive position alongside CEO Ben Kensell. Despite McDermott’s departure shortly after Mackay’s arrival, he praised Gordon’s continued contributions to talent identification, highlighting Gordon’s efforts in recruiting Dutch striker Dylan Vente.
Mackay acknowledged the club’s recent issues with an oversized and unbalanced squad, attributing these problems to the varying demands of different managers rather than interference from the ownership. He stressed that Gordon is not solely responsible for player acquisitions and will not be in the future, as Mackay plans to lead a structured recruitment process involving multiple perspectives, including scouts, coaches, and data analysts.
Mackay noted the significant investment the Gordon family has made in the club and their commitment to supporting managerial decisions. He outlined plans for a strategic approach to recruitment, aiming to address the squad’s imbalances and financial concerns, but cautioned that substantial changes would likely occur next summer when many player contracts expire.