Hibs transfer latest - David Gray's Deadline Day prediction as Warren O'Hora Leicester exit explained
SPFL registration deadline falls just a couple of hours before Hibs v Hearts at Easter Road
David Gray insists Hibs fans should “never say never” over the prospect of Deadline Day deals. But he’s not actively seeking to shake up the Easter Road squad just hours before the first Edinburgh derby of the season.
The Hibs boss joked that he’d be comfortable doing some business ahead of the 5 pm deadline - as long as it doesn’t involve losing half of his starting XI for the home clash with Hearts kicking off at 7.45 pm.
Warren O’Hora joined Leicester City this morning
Gray, who saw Warren O’Hora move to Leicester City and replacement Marko Ivezic arrive on a busy morning of action, said of the work done so far: “At this moment, very satisfied. The window's still open, you never know, I'd never say never until that door slams shut.
“You have to be ready. I say that all the time and that's still very much the case.”
Asked about the timing of the deadline so close to kick-off against Hearts, Gray said: “Well, as long as you don't lose five or six of your starting XI ... that would cause you a bit of a problem at five o'clock, to be honest! But no, I think it's just one of these things.
“When the derby falls, when it falls, my full focus is on that. I know the window's open, but the work that goes on in the recruitment department happens every day, all year round, to be ready for that. My full focus will be on the game, and it is fully on the game just now.
“When there's conversations that need to be had, we'll certainly have them, but nothing will be distracting me from what we need to do. And the players that are all involved, well, they are already really looking forward to the derby.”
Deadline Day expectations
Pressed on whether he expects to make signings before the cut-off, Gray revealed: “Not expecting anything in terms of, we definitely do this, definitely do that. As I've already said, we do need to be ready, and we are still looking.
“It’s not as if we just say: ‘Listen, we're happy, the shop's shut.’ You always need to be ready to react and be proactive.
“That's not changed, because you never know what might become available. This window's probably slightly different. I'd expect there to be a wee bit more speculation today and tomorrow, just because it's a window that's open later than the English one especially.
“If the window slams shut right this second, I'd be really pleased with where we are right now, and that's probably the most important thing, is making sure that we do finish the window as strong as we can.”
Addressing the loss of O’Hora and arrival of Ivezic, Gray said: “With Warren, nobody would want him to leave. I think he's done really well for the football club.
“But at the same time it’s a really good success story in terms of what he's done. He fully deserves it for how he's been since he joined the club, improving all the time.
“The opportunity came up and it's something that he wanted to explore, naturally. I wish him all the very best of that moving forward but as I've said, we reacted very quickly and brought in Marco as well.
“He's someone who's played at a very good level, again, at a good age as well. He's a younger player but not 19-20. He's got a good level of experience behind him as well, a very versatile defender which is important, I think, especially for the way he plays. He can play off the side, he can play central defence and full-back as well at times.”