CELTIC assistant John Kennedy has been installed as the early favourite to replace Shaun Maloney as Hibs manager.

Maloney has departed after just four months in the Easter Road hotseat in the wake of Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts.

The former Celtic and Scotland midfielder left his post as Belgium assistant manager to succeed Jack Ross in December and won his first two matches in charge against Aberdeen and Dundee United.

But Hibs have only won one cinch Premiership game in 2022 and a 3-1 league defeat against Hearts the week before the semi-final consigned them to a bottom-six finish.

Kennedy is the favourite to replace Maloney and is priced at 2/1.

Current Kelty Hearts boss Kevin Thomson is next in the running priced at 4/1, while Livingston manager Davie Martindale is at 5/1.

Betfair Next Hibs manager full odds

John Kennedy: 2/1

Kevin Thomson: 4/1

David Martindale: 5/1

Scott Brown: 6/1

Ronny Deila: 8/1

Kjetil Knutsen: 10/1

Sabri Lamouchi: 12/1

Bob Bradley: 14/1