Rod Petrie 'hindered Hibs moves for current Rangers ace and Dutch star', claims John Hughes

Former Hibs boss John Hughes has claimed Rod Petrie blocked his hopes of taking the Easter Road side to the highest level possible - by refusing to invest in the playing squad.
John Hughes, right, with former Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, who he claims refused to back Hibs in the transfer marketJohn Hughes, right, with former Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, who he claims refused to back Hibs in the transfer market
John Hughes, right, with former Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, who he claims refused to back Hibs in the transfer market

"Yogi" took the reins in Leith in 2009 after six successful years with Falkirk but was frustrated in his attempts to lead the Capital club to success.

The current Ross County manager believes then chairman Petrie was a major obstacle in his attempts to sign players, and praised current owner Ron Gordon for backing Jack Ross in his attempts to lead the club to glory.

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“I was really disappointed that I never got the time to take the club to where I felt I could,” Hughes told the Edinburgh Football Show podcast.

Serginho Greene (left) in action for Feyenoord in a UEFA Cup match against Blackburn RoversSerginho Greene (left) in action for Feyenoord in a UEFA Cup match against Blackburn Rovers
Serginho Greene (left) in action for Feyenoord in a UEFA Cup match against Blackburn Rovers

“Rod ran the club the way he ran it, which you saw with the managers he went through, but he was entitled to do that as chairman.

“But it’s about giving managers a better chance, which is what we’re seeing now. Jack Ross has got a great chance. It seems to be a great chairman in there that wants to really invest in the club, which wasn’t always the case with Rod, but you just had to get on with it.”

Hughes also claimed he failed in attempts to bring former Ajax and Feyenoord defender Serginho Greene to Easter Road, and was prevented from a reunion with Bairns midfielder Scott Arfield, who he was keen to sign shortly before the Canadian internationalist moved south to join Huddersfield in May 2010.

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Falkirk had reportedly turned down offers from Hibs, Hearts, Hamilton, and Southampton prior to Arfield's move, and Hughes felt hampered in his attempts to bolster his Hibs squad.

He continued: “There were so many players I wanted to sign. I wanted to sign Scott Arfield and I thought that might have materialised, but it never.

“There was another one, a boy called Serginho Greene that came over with us for pre-season to Holland.

"Even guys like Liam Miller – he just came and played for a wage, he wasn't on great money.

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“He’d made all his money at Manchester United and Celtic, his wife was from Edinburgh and he just wanted to play football.”

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