Nick Montgomery spoke to the media ahead of the Edinburgh derby against Hearts at Easter Road. Here's everything the Hibs manager had to say...

So, you're going to be mic'd up for the Edinburgh derby?

“That’s something that was an agreement between Hearts, Hibs, Sky Sports and the Scottish football authorities. I was made aware of it a couple of months ago; that discussions were in place to get the derby televised in this way – hopefully to lift the profile of the fixture and Scottish football, as a whole. 

“That was an initiative by Hearts, Hibs, Sky Sports and the SPFL.  If it can help the Scottish game and it can help the fans feel a little bit closer, I think it’s great. 

“Look around the world, even down south to the Premier League and Champions League, there is a lot more interactive stuff going on, more documentaries where the cameras get all access. Teams like Arsenal and Manchester City have let the fans see behind the scenes. 

“This is a showpiece game for Scottish football, one of the biggest derbies, and that was why there were discussions between Sky Sports, both clubs and the SPFL about this game. I’m manager of the club and all I can do is show the club in the best light as possible. 

Could there be some fruity language?

“Yeah, my wife is always telling me to curb my language. There is certainly some industrial football language in the technical area.  

“When you get passionate about anything, the swear words do come out. But I’ve definitely tried to improve on that because I’ve got three girls – and it’s not the sort of language I want to be known for. 

READ MORE: Hibs and Sky Sports join forces for 'innovative' derby

“But it’s passionate. And you have fans who book their seats behind the dugout every season; they get it live and in person every other week. Maybe fans in the other parts of the stadium don’t really get to see what goes on the bench. 

“It was an initiative that was agreed between both clubs, the broadcasters and the league. I’ll still be 100 per cent focused on getting the best result in the derby. 

Steven Naismith turned it down...

“I can only comment on myself. Both CEOs, the league and Sky Sports all agreed that this was a great opportunity to showcase the league. I can only speak for myself. I’ll try to be myself. 

“I’ve been involved in situations like this before and I can honestly say it doesn’t affect the game. It’s just an opportunity for the showpiece of an Edinburgh derby to be televised with a bit more access for the fans. 

What was that previous experience like?

“There was documentary stuff in the A-League that I was involved in. That involved being mic’d up. Sometimes you forget you’ve got the microphone on and obviously, it’s a passionate game.  

“The important thing is to be yourself. I’ll definitely be myself and I’m sure the staff will be no different.  We’re almost in 2024 now and this is the way sport is going around the world. I think if it’s something that Sky Sports and the league want to do, if it promotes Scottish football, that’s great.” 

What were your first impressions of the derby, once the dust had settled?

“I loved it. Loved the passion, loved the supporters and loved the atmosphere inside the stadium. It was a proper tense derby atmosphere where you know it’s going to be a lively affair long before kick-off.  It’s why we love football, being involved in games like that. It’s amazing to see that passion from the fans. I’ve been fortunate to play in many derbies, and coached in a few as well. It’s never boring.”