Petrie shock over Collins

Collins stood down from the post citing a lack of financial support to buy players, 14 months after succeeding Tony Mowbray at the helm. The former Celtic and Monaco midfielder was in a scheduled monthly board meeting when he broke the news to the club's stunned hierarchy.

Petrie, who insists he and his fellow directors tried to change Collins' mind, said: "It was a complete surprise, nobody was expecting it. We had a scheduled monthly board meeting planned at the training centre, which is a fantastic facility for the football club, and we didn't expect this to be the outcome of those discussions."

He added: "As a club, we are trying to continue to develop on the playing side as well as developing the infrastructure of the football club. There was a discussion within the board about resources and we invited John to identify exactly what it was he wanted.

"There was nobody in that meeting that didn't want to support the manager to take the club forward. He never quantified what he was looking for.

"He was invited to sit down with us, adjourn the meeting and do it in a smaller group and go through precisely what it was he wanted and whether that was affordable within the resources available to us, whether we should be working over time to change the approach we had. But he didn't take that opportunity."

Petrie refused to be critical of Collins for leaving the club just as they are about to embark on a hectic festive period.

The Hibs chairman, who has placed assistant manager Tommy Craig in interim control while they begin their search for a replacement, added: "John has been a pleasure to work with, he's a thoroughly professional man who goes about his business the right way and conducts himself in a very dignified and professional manner.

"There was complete disclosure about what the club wanted to do when he was interviewed for the job in terms of the budgets and training centre and we have delivered what is the envy of many.

"Strenuous efforts were made to try to get him to change his mind and to work with us and continue in the post. That's what we all wanted."