MONTREAL — Sitting inside the dugout prior to Friday night’s exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of John Gibbons’ most vocal critics popped in to congratulate the Blue Jays’ manager on his contract extension.

“Thanks very much,” said Gibbons.

After the dude left, Gibbons turned to an associate, smiled and said: “I don’t think he really meant that.”

And then he laughed.

That’s Gibbons. He has his fans and his detractors — plenty of both. But it’s clear now that he has fans where it counts the most.

After kicking the tires for about a year, the Jays front office finally reached the conclusion that Gibbons is a good enough manager, a strong enough leader and smart enough baseball man to merit a contract extension and finally have his ‘lame duck’ status exorcised.

About a week after first being reported in the media, the Jays confirmed Saturday that the 54-year-old has signed an extension through the 2019 season, with a club option for 2020. Money was not announced, but Gibbons is making close to $1 million a season on his current deal and it’s certain that he’ll get a boost.

“Obviously it’s good,” said Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson. “Everybody enjoys having Gibby around. He’s done a great job for us the last couple of years and I know he’s excited about this season and I think he’s earned it.”

Gibbons was asked what he thinks his strengths are as a manager.

“I’m a very humble guy,” he said with a smile. “I don’t answer those kinds of questions.”

He might not, but Donaldson was certainly willing.

“Honestly — and I know you hear this term a lot — he’s a player’s manager and he’s trying to look out for what’s best for the team as well as individuals,” said the 2015 AL MVP. “There’s a lot of big personalities on this team and he does a great job of massaging everybody and making sure that everybody’s on board. I’m excited to have him here and hopefully I’ll be around with him.”

When the Blue Jays hired Mark Shapiro as CEO and president in August, 2015 (succeeding Paul Beeston) from the Cleveland Indians’ organization, and then Shapiro hired Ross Atkins as GM in December of that year, the thought was Gibbons’ days were numbered and that he would likely get fired after the team’s first prolonged losing streak in 2016.

Gibbons was close to Beeston and former GM Alex Anthopoulos and a change in manager seemed to be in the cards. But over the last year — not to mention the fact that Gibbons led the Jays to a second straight playoff appearance in 2016 — the three clicked.

Gibbons hit it off with Shapiro and Atkins and the club’s front office leaders realized that he is not some dim-witted, good-old-boy that some Jays’ fans seem to think him to be, that underneath that Everyman demeanor is a smart, highly driven baseball man.

“I think John Gibbons (would be) a good fit for any Major League baseball team,” said Atkins. “His experience as a player, as a manager with this team, not only having knowledge of the current roster but having been around some exceptional players in his time, there’s no doubt that he benefits from that. But I think John Gibbons would be a great manager for a young (club), if you want to call it a rebuilding effort.

“I think because of his values and because of his expertise, and his agility, he would be a great and effective leader either way.”

For his part, Gibbons said getting an extension was never something he lost sleep over, but now that it’s done, he’s grateful.

“I’ve always heard that ‘lame-duck’ status,” he said. “Whether it affects guys in the room, I don’t know. But as an individual, you have that in the back of your mind. I don’t know if you necessarily do things differently (as a manager), but security is a good thing and it can be a bad thing. There’s times people might take that for granted and back off a little bit.

“I definitely don’t plan on doing that. But it’s nice. My family’s happy, put it that way.”

Gibbons tenure as the Jays’ manager has certainly been an interesting one.

He was promoted to the position in 2004 when GM J.P. Ricciardi fired Carlos Tosca. Then he was fired mid-season in 2008 and replaced by Cito Gaston.

Most Jays fans thought they had seen the last of Gibbons, especially given that in 2012 he was managing in double-A. So everyone was shocked — Gibbons included — when Anthopoulos hired him back as manager in November, 2012.

“Really, it’s kind of odd that I even came back a second go-round,” Gibbons said. “But I’m very fortunate, no question. I’ve loved my time here. When it’s all said and done I’ll look back with great memories. I consider myself somewhat a Canadian, I guess — which is never a bad thing.”

If he sticks around until the end of his extension, Gibbons would pass Gaston for most games as a Jays’ manager (1764).

“Our ultimate goal is to win a championship,” said Gibbons. “It’s not easy to do, but that’s a goal. We’ve come close to getting to that World Series the last couple of years. That’s what we want to do. But the number of wins you have as a manager? Those are usually longevity things anyway. If you’re around long enough you’re going to win some games.

“I haven’t really thought about that. Maybe someday I will. Cito is the front-runner (913 wins to 644). He’s a buddy of mine. He’s got two rings. That’s the ultimate goal. That gets tough to top.”

SBuffery@postmedia.com

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