Having inherited a team stuck in reverse, it seems fitting that Terry Butcher's first signing as manager of Hibernian is more forward thinking.
It is understood that striker Danny Haynes will this afternoon formally complete a loan move from Notts County and become the inaugural arrival of Butcher's reign.
The former England under-19 internationalist arrived in Edinburgh yesterday alongside his agent, Mark Bennett, to sign a loan deal which will tie him to Easter Road until the end of the season. The forward - who was placed on the transfer list at County, despite being just six months into a two-year deal - arrived too late to be registered with the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League last night, but is expected that he will be confirmed as a Hibernian player this afternoon.
Strikers are sought most during transfer windows, but the 26-year-old will move to Leith having shown the potential to score goals rather than it being a habit. He has scored just four times in 22 appearances this season, but it is a campaign which has been blighted by injuries and suspensions.
A source close to the player last night confirmed the lure of working with Butcher was a factor in Haynes agreeing to move to Easter Road, with a number of English clubs also keen on the pacy attacker.
He might also appreciate a change of scenery to rediscover his best form - Haynes having spent the majority of his career in the Championship in England, following spells at Ipswich Town, Millwall, Bristol City, Barnsley and Charlton Athletic. He dropped down to Sky Bet League 1 to join Notts County last summer.
He will be asked to pick up the slack in Hibs frontline. The club has scored just 21 times in the league this term, the joint-lowest tally alongside Partick Thistle. Butcher has made no secret of his intention to add a striker during this window then, although he had been eager to get a deal done earlier. "Scoring is an area we want to focus on," said the Hibs manager earlier this season. "We need to add quality, new possibilities."
There is the promise of new opportunities for Falkirk youngsters Stephen Kingsley and Jay Fulton too, with the pair the subject of a six-figure bid from Swansea City last night. Discussions are understood to be at an advanced stage regarding Fulton - who is out of contract this summer - but Falkirk are in no rush to move on Celtic-target Kingsley.
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