David Gray admitted last week that, with the January transfer window closed, attention inevitably must turn towards the large number of Hibs players hurtling towards free agency in a matter of months. Gray also said he understood why some of those players would be looking for “assurances” about their futures.
With Rocky Bushiri revealing that he’d yet to begin any sort of meaningful negotiations with the club over extending his own contract beyond the end of this season, plenty of fans will be wondering about events happening behind the scenes. Where conversations are most definitely taking place.
The problem, of course, lies not merely in the sheer number – 15, by Gray’s count, when you include some of the youngsters – of players free to move on come the end of May. The real issue is uncertainty over what Hibs CAN do in the summer.
While losses of £7.1 million for the last financial year will be underwritten by the Gordon family, even cutting that deficit in half won’t put Hibs on a course to sustainability. Do the owners keep throwing money at the problem? Does billionaire Bournemouth owner Bill Foley find a way to either invest more hard cash or provide in-kind benefits via access to the Black Knight group’s player pool?
Foley has gone on record, of course, with his belief that Hibs should become the undisputed third force in Scottish football as a result of their tie-in with his portfolio of clubs. His view is that the money required to virtually guarantee access to European football via the Scottish Premiership is so insignificant, compared to the sums being spent in the Premier League, that it makes economic sense to speculate to accumulate.
As Gray points out, the best approach for any player approaching the end of his current contract is to double down on effort and performance. Earn yourself a new deal at Hibs or a better option elsewhere.
Let’s take a look, then, at some of the big names in limbo at the moment. How many would you keep, if possible?
5. Junior Hoilett
Signed on a one-year contract in the summer, the experienced Canadian international has definitely contributed to the team in fits and starts. His quality on the ball is indisputable. But he’ll be 35 in June. | SNS Group
6. Josef Bursik
Loan spell expires in the summer. A genuinely unsatisfactory experience for all involved, not least a keeper who will return to Club Brugge with his confidence badly dented after a troubled stint in the Scottish Premiership – most of it spent on the bench since losing his place to Jordan Smith. | SNS Group
7. Nectar Triantis
Another loanee, Sunderland all-rounder Triantis has been a huge hit in his second stint at Easter Road. Gray would love to keep him. But that might not be possible, depending on Sunderland’s promotion hopes … | SNS Group
8. Dwight Gayle
Veteran former Newcastle striker has already made it clear that, with his body “breaking down”, he can’t put himself through another campaign. He’s scored a couple of timely goals, including a derby winner at Tynecastle. And would love to sign off with a few more before his one-year deal expires. | SNS Group