IT IS A FOOTBALL fan’s dream – managing your favourite club; standing on the sidelines and directing your team to glory, with victory over your rivals.

But one lucky Hibs fan was given the chance to do just that by taking the Easter Road club for a day, thanks to the Walk With Scott Foundation.

Derek Ross, from London, was given the chance to step into the managerial hot seat at East Mains, on the outskirts of Ormiston and Hibs’ training ground, thanks to the Tranent-based charity.

Councillor Colin McGinn, who is a board member with the charity, was delighted to take part in the day, which saw Mr Ross shadowing Hibees boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The councillor said: “We got the guided tour and got to meet the manager and the players and all the backroom staff.

“We had lunch with the first team squad but the key thing was just how accommodating and how welcoming everybody at the club was.

“We did not feel we were a hindrance to the extent we were allowed into the press conference.

“Paul Heckingbottom invited Derek up to sit beside him during the press conference and he was introduced as the manager for the day.”

The prize of managing Hibs for a day was auctioned off by the charity, which aims to promote health and wellbeing in the area.

Derek’s bid of £1,000 secured him the top prize and the chance to become a manager.

Mr McGinn described the football fan as “clearly a Hibs fanatic”, with the group visiting the training ground ahead of the Capital side’s 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock and derby-day win over arch-rivals Hearts.

The charity was founded by Tranent resident Scott Glynn, who was unable to attend the training session, Mr McGinn going instead.

Mr McGinn, who is also a Hibernian fan, told the Courier he felt like “a kid in the sweetie shop”.

He added: “Scott knows Neil Lennon [ex-Hibs boss and now Celtic manager] through the after-dinners speaking circuit that they do.

“We were a bit concerned as a board with the change of manager at Hibs and whether this would happen. The new manager has to get on with his own stuff but George Craig, head of football operations at Hibs, was fantastic.

“When Scott got in touch, Hibs said they would honour it.

“They increased the offer and it was just to be one person originally but Derek got to bring a couple of family members along.

“Hibs increased the offer and it was a wonderful day.”