'Irrelevant in my eyes': Hibs' Martin Boyle breaks silence on captaincy decision and reveals how ill he was
Hampden hero not fazed by changes and praises Reedijk for big Hearts decision
Scoring goals for Hibs against Hearts never gets old. Just ask Martin Boyle, who at the age of 33 is still banging them in against his fiercest rivals.
Boyle netted his sixth Edinburgh derby strike in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Hearts. It helped book Hibs a place in next month’s Premier Sports Cup final as the current team made a bit of history, the first to overcome the Jambos at the national stadium.
It has been a rough time for Hibs - and Boyle. Entering his testimonial season at Easter Road, the Australia internationalist has struggled recently with illness and has also been stripped of the captaincy. While Joe Newell is the club skipper, the midfielder has rarely featured until the past week due to injury. Boyle has worn the armband consistently for the past two years, but new head coach Marink Reedijk has gone for a different approach and named German right-back Felix Passlack as his captain.
It was a bold and eye-catching move, especially as Hibs lost three and drew one of Reedijk’s opening matches before their moment of sheer glory at Hampden. For the first time, Boyle addresses his manager’s decision - and bullishly declared that it has not changed the way he plays for team.
“It didn’t affect me one single bit,” revealed Boyle. “It didn’t affect me when I was captain and it doesn’t impact me now. It is completely irrelevant in my eyes.
“If I am asked to be the leader on the day or not then it is not going to change the type of character I am. It is not going to change the person I am and it is not going to change my performances.
“Whoever leads us out, leads us out. We have a good group and a good leadership group that is very experienced. If that is the way forward he wants to go, then we will need to back the manager.”
Reedijk explained his decision to Boyle. “Yes, he pulled me and you have to accept it,” the forward continued. “I am not the manager of this football club and I don’t make the decisions. The only thing I can do is let my football do the talking, which I have.
“I have been training hard and merited my start at Hampden and I have repaid him.”
Boyle spoke warmly about how pleased he was to get the first win for Reedijk given pressure was already starting to mount upon the 35-year-old Dutchman so early in his tenure.
“It is huge,” said Boyle. “I am delighted for him. His tactics were spot on and so was the team he selected. Fair play to him, he has been brilliant since he came in. He has been really positive. Us players need to stand up to the occasion and to start getting better results.”
‘I wouldn’t wish it on anyone’
Boyle had missed Hibs’ previous two matches against Celtic and St Mirren, needing to shrug off a particularly nasty stomach bug to take his place in the starting XI against Hearts.
“I just got out of my bed the day of the St Mirren game,” explained Boyle. “I text the doc to say, 'I feel all right,' but it was too late. I had been in my bed three days and it hasn’t pretty. With the sounds I heard and the sights I saw, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
“I tried to put myself through it on the Sunday [against Celtic] but I was medically advised against it. “I don’t know what it was down to, a bug or food poisoning. When I came back in I trained with the young boys.
“I wanted to keep my head down and to keep working hard. Luckily the manager had faith in me to select me on Sunday for a big occasion after the boys did well midweek. I am thankful for that and I am happy to contribute.”
Reedijk caught Hearts off-guard by deploying Boyle in an unfamiliar wide-left position. “I didn’t expect that,” he admitted. “I was told on Saturday morning that I was playing. As long as I am playing, I am happy. It was kind of a free role, you can stay high and wide out there and can hit them where it hurts.
“It was a bit more natural for me, where I could get on the ball and run at people. It was a nice feeling. I caused a few threats and managed to get a goal. I enjoyed it but it could change next week with the manager’s tactics. Fair play to him on Sunday, he got it spot on.”
Boyle’s contract expires next summer. By that time he will be 34 and while he caught a few on the hop by signing a new contract at the end of last season, there is an acceptance that his time at Easter Road, alongside fellow veteran Newell, is coming to an end.
“Joe and I were joking before the game that it was one last gig,” laughed Boyle. “Looks like we are going to get another one. Lots of the boys are still talking away. Everyone knows what this club means to myself and Joe. We show that passion day in and day out. We can celebrate memories like Hampden and if we can help the younger generation coming through then it is a good pathway for everybody at the club.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to win. The run they had been on and in Europe, etc, while we are bottom of the league. Football is mental. “We came to Hampden and had belief we could get a result - and we did.
“I thought we stuck together and we will need to continue to do that over the whole season. Sunday doesn’t paper over the cracks. We are bottom of the league and we have another massive test next week. Hopefully, we can start to climb that table and enjoy the cup final.”