K ilmarnock'S former manager will go into his first full season in charge of Hibs without the clutch of new players that he would have liked. Indeed the Easter Road side has made severe cut-backs which has left Bobby Williamson with little option but to build a team with the players he inherited from Franck Sauzee.
Certainly Hibs supporters will not be hoping for the same sort of season as last year in which they lost Alex McLeish to Rangers then appointed Sauzee as manager before panicking as they slid down the table and brought in Williamson as a safe pair of hands.
The former Kilmarnock coach steadied the ship at Easter Road but clearly would have been much happier if he had money available to bring in his own players. However, the three changes of manager in one season did affect the Hibs players, who woefully under-achieved during the last campaign and, with that in mind, things can only get better for them.
Ulises de la Cruz, whom Hibs paid a record (pounds) 700,000 for, has recently moved on, to Aston Villa in the English Premiership, and his presence could be missed. He often failed to live up to his star billing at Easter Road, but showed in flashes that he had the little bit extra to turn matches. A (pounds) 1.3m profit in less than a year is good business however, but Williamson must be given some of that cash to reinvest - at the time of writing, he has signed no-one.
The return to first-team duty of Tom McManus, who missed most of last season through injury, will be a big boost. Indeed, up front Williamson has the pick of Francisco Luna, McManus, and young Garry O'Connor, so the loss of the veteran Craig Brewster to Dunfermline shouldn't make too great a
difference.
A player to watch is the former Manchester United player Grant Brebner, who was signed on a long-term contract by McLeish but has struggled to find a starting berth under Williamson. This could be his year as his guile and fitness could be important to a Hibs midfield in which John O'Neil isn't getting any younger. Matthias Jack, one of the most important players for the club last season, is another midfielder who may be on his way out of Easter Road because they can't afford to keep him.
In defence, the return to the first team of Ulrik Laursen, another long-term injury victim will give him more options on the left-side. His return could allow Ian Murray, another left-sided player, to make a big impact, possibly in midfield.
Hibs paid big bucks to prise Williamson away from Kilmarnock and certainly if the Edinburgh club are successful this year it will be down to him. Inheriting a squad of players is never easy and the only way they will succeed is if he manages to make a team out of a squad of talented individuals.
It is certainly one of the toughest tests he will have faced as a manager and although he will grin and bear the fact he is working with little money, it isn't the ideal start to his first full season as Hibs manager.
PLAYERS IN
None
PLAYERS OUT
David Zitelli, Lilian Martin, Eduardo Hurtado, Lyndon Andrews (all released), Craig Brewster (Dunfermline, Bosman), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa, (pounds) 2m)
PRediction 5th
Hibs' promising youngsters and manager with proven track record could be hampered by lack of new signings
HIBERNIAN
Founded 1875
One of Scotland's most famous clubs, Hibs claim the distinction of being the first British side ever to compete in Europe. However, the Easter Road men last won the top division title in 1951/52 and haven't won the Cup since 1902. The fifties - the period of the 'famous five' front line - was undoubtedly their most successful spell. Four Division one crowns, two Cups and two League Cups is far from the trophy collection expected of one of Scotland's biggest clubs, who have spent most of their existence in the top flight. Supporters are used to coming close: they have been runners up in the Cup nine times, mainly due to Celtic. Hibs' last trophy was the League Cup in '92 under Alex Miller. Also managed at one time by Willie Ormond. Hibs' most famous former son is none other than 'The Belfast Boy' himself, George Best, who graced Easter Road in 1979 and 1980. European glory came in 1956 in
the European Cup; Hibs reached the semi's and repeated that achievement in the Fairs Cup in '61.
Honours Division one champions 1902/03, 1947/48, 1950/51, 1951/52. Division two champions 1893/94, 1894/95, 1932/33. First division champions 1980/81, 1998/99. Scottish Cup winners 1887, 1902. League Cup winners 1972/73, 1991/92
Ground Easter Road
Colours Green and white
Nickname The Hibees
Address Easter Road Stadium, 12 Albion Place, Edinburgh EH7 5QG
Telephone 0131 661 2159
Website hibs.co.uk
Capacity 16,039
Record Att (65,860 v Hearts, 1950)
Record Victory 22-1 (v 42nd Highlanders, 1881)
Record Defeat 0-10 (v Rangers, 1898)
Last season 10th
Best SPL finish 3rd, 2000/2001.
Ambition Top 6 finish; European football.
Star Player/ Talisman Francisco Luna.
Can't do without Ulises De La Cruz - unfortunately they'll have to, as the Ecuadorian international has ditched Easter Road for Premiership football with Aston Villa
Injuries Ulrik Laursen, Tom McManus, ( both recovering from long-term injuries),
Style of play 4-4-2.
Did you know? Hibs were invited into the inaugural European Cup in 1956 as one of Britain's foremost teams.They lost to Reims 3-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Entertainment factor Luna's trickery.
Rising star/ Promising youth Garry O'Connor (Striker), Mark Dempsie, (Defender), Allan Dempsie (Midfield); Derek Riordan, (Striker).
Future/ Possible Internationalists: Tam McManus, M Dempsie, A Dempsie, Riordan (Scotland).
Last Season Factfile Finished third bottom after being third top season before. Second-lowest number of wins after bottom team.
Areas for improvement Converting goals into points.
All time greats Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull, Willie Ormond, Pat Stanton, Joe Baker.
If they were a team in the World Cup, who would they be? Spain - frequently exciting, have had some fantastic players, but never seem to have achieved much.
Manager Bobby Williamson
The former Rangers player's
managerial career began with
Kilmarnock. Moved to Hibs last year.
Chairman Malcolm McPherson
Life-long Hibs fan, named chairman in 1999. Also chairman at corporate law firm Henderson Boyd Jackson.
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