PAT FENLON may well have felt compelled to have wee lie in today.
The Hibernian manager was working at a frantic pace yesterday as he made four new additions to his side to try and stave off the threat of relegation from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Fenlon again relied heavily on the loan market as he tied up deals for Roy O'Donovan, the Coventry City striker, and Matt Doherty, the Wolves full-back, for the rest of the season, as well as recent Rangers trialist Jorge Claros, on a 12-month temporary move from Honduran club Motagua. With full-back Pa Saikou Kujabi, known as the Gambian Roberto Carlos, also agreeing an 18-month contract following a successful trial, Fenlon has attended to each outfield area of the Edinburgh side.
Defender Michael Hart and striker Akpo Sodje were both released having both failed to hold down a regular places since Fenlon took over at the Edinburgh club. The capture of Claros represented something of a coup for the capital club after the 26-year-old Honduras internationalist, who is a friend and former team-mate of Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre and is nicknamed the Pitbull, spent two weeks impressing the coaching staff at Rangers before featuring for Hibs in a closed-door game against Carlisle United.
"I am happy to be here at Hibernian," said the midfielder, speaking through a translator. "I have been treated very well since I arrived in Edinburgh. Now, I hope to give the right results on the pitch for the team.
"I have now been in Scotland for two weeks and feel I have learned a lot about Scottish football. The game is very fast over here and I am looking forward to playing in the SPL. The Scottish fans are very passionate about football.
"Everyone has made me feel welcome during my time here and I am also very thankful to my good friend, Emilio Izaguirre, who has made me feel at home in Scotland as I do in Honduras.
"Edinburgh is very nice. I saw the city centre last night, it is a beautiful city. I think my family and I will enjoy our time in Edinburgh. The people have been very friendly and have wished me every success for the team."
O'Donovan has already spent time in Scotland during a five-month loan spell with Dundee United in 2008, while Kujabi is largely an unknown quantity having seemingly been without a club since leaving Bundesliga 2 side FSV Frankfurt 18 months ago. Doherty, a 20-year-old Irishman, is also something of an unknown to supporters, but worked under Fenlon at Bohemians two years ago.
With the Hibs manager already having brought in Eoin Doyle, George Francomb, Tom Soares and James McPake this month, the Irishman is clearly banking on his fresh faces easing his team up the table.
Across the city, Rudi Skacel has extended his stay at Hearts until the end of the season. The midfielder tweeted: "I am happy to say we came to an agreement and I am staying till the end of season! Let's go, Jambos!"
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