The Hibs hero didn’t hold back in his views on the boss at Easter. Road

Tam McManus has told Lee Johnson the form of Hibs isn’t good enough and he’s lucky to still be in a job after their 3-2 defeat to St Mirren on Sunday.

And the Easter Road hero admits he has serious concerns over the campaign and how Johnson is dealing with early season troubles for Hibs. McManus has been concerned by the defending in games against Inter d’Escaldes and St Mirren and when Johnson accused some players of being lazy, he feels the Hibs manager is starting to feel the pressure and could be in for a tough time if he loses the dressing room as well as the fans.

The supporters made their feelings clear when they were in Andorra and did so again at the weekend when they conceded twice in a minute to go 2-0 down, and then when they had clawed it back they conceded a late goal for St Mirren to win it too. It’s not just the defending that McManus has been concerned about, but Johnson also hooked Josh Campbell and Allan Delferriere after half an hour and he believes that was a sign he got things wrong and it was easy to make an example of younger members of the squad.

McManus didn’t hold back in his views and it’s clear the outspoken pundit is losing patience with Johnson and he believes it might not be long until those in charge at Easter Road feel the same way.

In his Daily Record column, McManus said: “He believes he has enough credit in the bank with the Easter Road fans from last season to see him through these early campaign troubles. Maybe he’s right when he says the supporters do love him really, I’m just not so sure. Some are ready to turn on him and some have already lost the faith, that’s how I see the current state of play. I just don’t see a lot of love for him at the minute, many have given up on him and he’s running out time.

“Now he’s begun to throw a few players under the bus by accusing a few of being lazy and that’s a dangerous statement which will have filtered into the dressing room. He’s great for the media, there’s none of the usual, ‘game of two halves’, about him, none of the claptrap, he comes out with some whopping lines. The media love that but the fans are getting a bit fed up with it.

“It’s only positive results which will sweet talk them back onside but there’s no consistency in either selection or performance. Ever since he arrived as manager, there has been no time when he’s put a consistent run of winning form together.

“It’s been two steps forward and one step forward and two back then three forward and two back, he’s never managed to get a clean, smooth run, it’s form which is punctuated with win, draw, win, stinker after stinker and then a win. That doesn’t get you credit in the bank, it gets you the sack and the truth is that the late former chairman Ron Gordon wasn’t as patient as his son Ian Gordon or chief executive Ben Kensell who are now in control.

“Ron was ruthless with both Jack Ross and Shaun Maloney, a couple of bad runs and it was the chop. Neither of them enjoyed anywhere near the same amount of backing as this manager.

“Sadly Ron is now gone but the current decision makers are certainly showing a lot of loyalty, if Ron had still been calling the shots I’m not so sure Johnson would still be there. Look at Sunday, terrible first half, two goals down to St Mirren after 15 minutes and just when his side needed to come flying out of the traps on the back of a great result in Europe, all of that momentum was shattered.

“Two goals down before they’ve barely kicked a ball and a full house of expectant fans are already looking for the exits. What was worse was his actions after 29 minutes when he hooked two players which is basically an admission that he got his selection wrong.

“Allan Delferriere and Josh Campbell were both hauled off and they are two of the younger boys which begs the question. Was it easier to make an example of a couple of younger lads?

“It wasn’t until the introduction of Adam Le Fondre that Hibs managed to get into the game and just as they looked to have rescued a point, another defensive calamity allowed St Mirren to score a late third. That’s two games from three now where I’ve watched Hibs and defensively they’ve been shocking.

“The goals conceded against Inter Club D’Escaldes in Andorra and now against the Buddies have alarm bells ringing. It’s a huge issue, especially as Hibs look as though they have goals in them this season and Le Fondre looked dangerous linking up with Christian Doidge.

“Johnson needs to find a goalkeeper from somewhere, which is astonishing as he had three a few weeks ago. He also needs to find a back four which will do the basics and defend properly as they are woeful at the moment and if they do that against Luzern tomorrow night then they’ll be heading out of Europe.

“There’s a bit less pressure as the Swiss side are favourites to win over the two legs of this Europa Conference third round qualifier but that could help Hibs at home. What’s crucial is they manage to take some sort of result into the second-leg which offers a bit of hope.

“Johnson’s lost two out of his first three games and after the money which has been spent, the team needed to get off to a fast start. Now it’s edging towards a crisis. They need to keep the tie alive tomorrow and wins must be racked up starting with Motherwell at Fir Park this weekend or Johnson could find the love he believes is still in the room for him is a delusion.

“I’ve seen the writing on the wall before.”