Heckingbottom claims he spoke to Radrizzani days ago, admits offers straight after Leeds exit

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Ex-Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom has become the new Hibernian manager.

New Hibernian boss Paul Heckingbottom has told the Daily Record that he spoke to Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani just days ago.

Heckingbottom is back in football, having been appointed as Hibernian manager on Thursday, landing the job after links to Michael Appleton.

Heckingbottom replaces Neil Lennon in the Easter Road dugout, and will now be hoping to secure a top six finish after picking up a first win over Hamilton Academical on Saturday.

The move to Edinburgh comes just over a year since Heckingbottom become Leeds United boss in a fairly forgettable stint at Elland Road.

The 41-year-old was prised away from Barnsley in February 2018, but was given just 16 games in charge, of which he won only four.

Heckingbottom was promptly sacked at the end of last season, and was replaced by Marcelo Bielsa in a move that Leeds really won’t regret, as they chase promotion under Bielsa.

Heckingbottom is back in management though, and has revealed that he was actually on the phone with Leeds owner Radrizzani just days ago, and noted that he would take the Leeds job all over again if he could.

He even admitted that he actually got offered a job just a day after leaving Leeds, and almost jumped back into management, but took more time out of the game before heading to Scotland.

“I would do it again, it was an unbelievable experience. I was on the phone to the owner the other night,” said Heckingbottom. “Right club, wrong time, just one of those things. When I was in it a few months I looked at areas to improve and get even better. The first time I was out of work I promised I would do those things.”

“I was offered a job the day after I left Leeds and it was tough not to jump straight back in. I’m glad I didn’t as the first three months I was working on those areas of self-improvement. Once that was done I started to get itchy feet. I’ve just got my first training session out the way and it’s as if I’ve never been away,” he added.