ROLLERCOASTER ride would be one way to describe Hibs boss John Collins' first year in the Easter Road hotseat. However, the manager's former Hibs team-mate Paul Kane reckons the Big Dipper would be a more apt description. Collins guided the capital club to their first major domestic honour in 16 years when they won the CIS Cup in impressive fashion against Kilmarnock at Hampden in March. And Kane believes the former Scotland midfielder won the supporters over and cemented his hero status as both Hibs player and manager when he beat Hearts in the quarter-final of the same competition in only his second game in charge. Kane said: "John has had a fantastically successful first year in the Hibs hotseat. "He was fortunate that one of his first games in charge was against Hearts in the quarterfinal of the CIS Cup. "He was already regarded as a legend as a Hibs player but that win over Hearts confirmed his legendary status as a manager after just ONE game. "I know it sounds daft but that victory laid the foundations for everything else that followed in the CIS Cup. "Beating their arch rivals got John off to a flyer and the Hibs fans loved him right away for that. The fact they claimed their first silverware in 16 years was the icing on the cake. "I believe that Edinburgh derby win was the catalyst for all the success the club have had in the 12months Collins has been at the helm." In fact, the only blip in Collins' successful spell was the dressing room revolt exposed by Record Sportin the aftermath of the CIS Cup Final victory. Kane insists the revolt was probably the best thing that could have happened to Collins as a rookie manager as he has emerged from it a stronger and better manager. He said: "John had to experience that situation in order to become a better manager. "He handled the matter well and tried to keep it all in-house, dealing with it the way he saw fit. "It was unpleasant at the time but it was probably the making of him as a manager and that can only stand him and Hibs in good stead for the future. "Being a rookie manager that situation could have engulfed him and Collins could have been sacrificed instead of some of the Hibs players. But the way he handled the dressing-room crisis endeared him even more to the Hibs supporters. "If a manager has a couple of bad eggs in the ranks the best way to deal with that is to get them out of the club on your terms and in your own time - and that is exactly what John did. "In the manager's eyes he now has his own players and his own team and taking John's spell in charge over the whole year you would have to say that he has been a great success at Hibs. "Hibs fans have experienced nothing but highs since he took over as manager. "If I was to sum it all up I would say it hasn't been a rollercoaster at all - more like the Big Dipper. "That's because Hibs have been up there challenging the Old Firm and winning trophies and had that one big dip with the dressing-room rebellion. "In a peculiar way both Collins and the club have come out of it all stronger and better for that experience." Kane admits that with the likes of Lewis Stevenson, Kevin McCann and Ross Chisholm coming through the ranks the Easter Road side have barely had time to miss Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker who have left through the revolving Easter Road exit door. Kane said: "At least when Hibs sold Brown, Thomson and Whittaker they sold them for profit as they couldn't turn down cracking offers for all those players, unlike when Derek Riordan, Gary Caldwell and Ian Murray all left for nothing. "That kind of thing got to the Hibs fans. "But John made sure Hibs got the players' true market value and the club will reap the rewards because by selling those players we have built a new £3million training complex. "John also showed his business acumen so all in all he is not a bad package to have managing the club. "We also have the likes of Lewis Stevenson, Ryan McCann and Ross Chisholm all in the first team now and they are the next batch of kids who are showing signs of taking the club to the next level With Hibs having already beaten Celtic and Rangers and sat at the top of the table this season, Kane reckons Collins has to be happy with that that despite the recent blip when the capital side have lost their last two SPL matches on the spin. But Kane insists there has been nothing but a series of incredible highs since Collins took control of the club from Tony Mowbray last October. As a ringing endorsement of his up-and-coming managerial talent Collins has been linked with the vacant managerial posts at QPR and Bolton. Kane reckons that if the Hibs board can match Collins' ambitions then the match made in capital heaven can continue for some time to come. He said: "Some managers don't win any trophies in their lifetime but John did it within his first few months at Hibs. If the Easter Road board can match Collins' ambitions for the club I think he will stay in Edinburgh. "I know for a fact that John is highly ambitious and determined to make it right to the top as a manager. "It's up to the board to keep him happy and make him stay at the club by matching those ambitions. "If they do that then I can see him sticking around at Hibs for another two or three years." HIGHS & LOWS HIGHS Winning CIS Cup at Hampden last March - destroying Kilmarnock 5-1 in the process. Unearthing gems in the shape of Lewis Stevenson, Kevin McCann and Ross Chisholm who look set to become the latest batch of quality kids to emerge from the Easter Road production line. Two Edinburgh derby wins at Easter Road and Tynecastle. Back-to-back SPL victories over Celtic at Easter Road. Beating Rangers at Ibrox. Raking in £8.5million profit from sale of Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker. Overseeing the building of Hibs' state-of-the-art training academy. LOWS The dressing-room revolt following the CIS Cup Final triumph. The club eventually part company with a number of players including Michael Stewart, Simon Brown and Shelton Martis. Fans' favourite Ivan Sproule also leaves for Bristol City in a £300,000 deal. Goalkeeping problems with Simon Brown, Zibi Malkowski and Andy McNeil plague Collins throughout his first year. Having to cope without the services of Brown, Thomson and Whittaker. Being defeated 4-2 by Motherwell at the first hurdle in the defence of their CIS Cup crown. RECORD Games Played: 48 Won: 22 Lost: 14 Drawn:12 | 
