The victim of a well known hair-trigger ownership in Edinburgh and a litany of refereeing and VAR decisions which cost Hibs a place in the top six, the fates conspired to cut Montgomery’s tenure at the Scottish Premiership club to just eight tempestuous months.
 
Former Scotland youth international Monty took the job on the proviso he’d be handed time and a budget to rebuild an ageing squad in 2024-2025, a pledge the ownership and board reneged on.
 
Missing out on the top six by a single point - and with it a shot at Europe on the final day before the league was split into two - Montgomery and his team were ultimately undermined by officialdom with the Scottish FA admitting, post-season, to VAR howlers which cost the club five points in clashes against Hearts, Aberdeen and St Johnstone.
 
There were at least three other games in which the club were damaged by refereeing faux pas, decisions which contributed hugely to Montgomery’s premature exit and Hibs missing out on the top six.
 
One of the most egregious was the 'phantom' penalty awarded to Edinburgh rivals Hearts in a match which Hibs led before a spectacular blunder handed Hearts a lifeline in a game which finished 1-1.
 
Digesting his Easter Road experience and re-evaluating on a short vacation with his family, who made the move to Edinburgh with him, the 42-year-old retains his zest for management and has already been sounded out by a number clubs in Asia and in Europe.
 
“I’ve already had some offers but it needs to be the right project and I’m not going to necessarily rush into making any snap decisions,” said the man who built the winning team and culture at the Mariners which successor Mark Jackson has harnessed to win the Premiership and reach Saturday’s A-League grand final against Melbourne Victory.
 
“It needs to be the right opportunity and with a club which has an aligned vision to stick to a process and build something sustainable, which takes time.
 
“There are the ups and downs and challenges you have to expect along the way because there are so many variables in football you can not control.
 
“You’re always learning and growing and and every experience is a chance to grow, I have every faith and belief in myself to bring success and progression wherever I go next.”
 
Montgomery, who was head-hunted by Hibs off the back of transforming the Mariners from top to toe, is proud of the steps he took in attempting to reboot a club beset with challenges and besieged by doubters.
 
“When I took over Hibs in September, without a pre season and after a difficult start, we were bottom of the league sitting in the relegation places but reached a Scottish Cup quarter final and a League Cup semi final,” said Montgomery.
 
“We were only 20 seconds away from making the top six before conceding a last minute equaliser against Motherwell.
 
“I think by giving several young players their chance during my time there I was able to build a bit of depth for the future.  I left the club in a better place than I found it.
 
“I had one window in January which is always a difficult window and brought
In Myziane Maolida (11 goals in 18 appearances) who was our top scorer, plus Nathan Moriah Welsh who won young player of the year.
 
“We also brought the average age down from around 29 to 26 we were on a good long term path with by bringing about change, which is always uncomfortable.”
 
Monty’s influence in Gosford still resonates within the squad he built mainly from academy players he worked with for a number of years (Max Balard, Josh Nisbet, Dan Hall, Jacob Farrell, Alou Kuol, Reec Jing, Miguel Di Pizio and Harrison Steele).
 
All but two of the current Mariners squad were signed by Monty,  with Ryan Edmondson and Ronald Barcellos the visa captures Jackson has added since taking the reigns.
 
Just this week key squad members Farrell and Brian Kaltak were quoted extensively on the galvanising effect Montgomery had on their careers, with Kaltak being given his maiden professional contract at the age of 29.
 
Monty be watching avidly from afar as they go head to head with Victory in the decider.
 
“I’m so happy for the boys and the club - I’m in touch with them all the time to wish them well, and Mark has done a fantastic job on continuing on with something myself and Serg (Sergio Raimundo) built together all the way from the academy to working with the first team and becoming champions last season,” he said.
 
“It’s been an amazing journey for the group of players. Mark deserves huge credit for that along with Matt Simon who transitioned into the sporting director role during my time there.
 
"There’s also an incredible camaraderie and family spirit within that group of players and staff, best mates who all play for each other and a lot of ability to go with it.
 
“With the home fans and a packed Gosford stadium behind them they’re more than capable of getting the job done on Saturday and going back to back”