You could select a Hibs starting XI out of the first team players set to become free agents at the end of the season.
And, given the Easter Road club’s position at the bottom of the Premiership pile, you could forgive brassed-off punters for thinking ‘good riddance’. But in an age where player trading is key to the future, the situation facing boss David Gray, sporting director Malky Mackay and the Hibs hierarchy could well be holding the club back.
Right now, looking at the bloated squad at East Mains you wonder where the value is. In addition to 11 out of contract players there’s another four loanees who will no doubt be heading back to their clubs – Josef Bursik, Kwon, Nectar Triantis and Mykola Kuharevich. Hibs do at least have a year option written into two players on the list – Lewis Miller and Martin Boyle. But a decision has yet to be made on either player’s future.
Of course there’s two ways to look at the situation. On a positive note there’s the chance to streamline an overinflated and underperforming squad ahead of the next recruitment drive which is to be headed up by Bournemouth’s head of recruitment analysis Garvan Stewart. On the negative side it’s a sign of the constant turnover of managers and players that so many of these first teamers could leave Leith for nothing in the not-too-distant future.
And some of whom were, at one stage, thought to be valuable assets. Rocky Bushiri for instance. Two years ago Lee Johnson claimed he wouldn’t sell the big defender for £10million. Okay the Englishman was never shy of spouting a fanciful line or two. But now? Bushiri’s half-time appearance in last week’s 2-1 defeat to St Mirren was his only Premiership minutes since coming on as a late sub in the 2-2 draw with Dundee in August. He can’t get near a starting line-up and the Congo international’s days at Easter Road look numbered.
The rest? Starting in goal the largely untried Max Boruc could be worth a new deal given his age and the fact Josef Bursik, another who’s failed to set the heather alight, will be heading back to Club Brugge in the summer. The aforementioned Miller has an option on his contract that could well see the Aussie international in situ again next season. Chris Cadden is potentially the most valuable of the lot given his age and form on the right flank. But unless a new deal is signed he can walk for zilch in June. Nohan Kenneh? The invisible man of Easter Road looks certain to be on his way having not played a top team minute since January 8, 2023, when Johnson was still manager.
Jake Doyle-Hayes came back from the wilderness – albeit much of that time spent injured – for a late cameo in last month’s derby draw with Hearts. It’s his only minutes since August 2023. Luke Amos hasn’t stepped on the park since August. Then there’s the Boyle question. Undoubtedly the most talented player in the Hibs squad on his day, the Australia international has unfortunately had too few of those days in recent times. It’s not for a lack of trying. The look of utter exasperation on Boyle’s face when his penalty was saved in the St Mirren defeat told the story of a player almost trying too hard. But the winger will be 32 in the summer. And perhaps that final pay day has passed him and Hibs by.
Harry McKirdy is another who is free to talk to clubs in January. Incredibly it’s two years and almost three months since the striker arrived from Swindon Town in a deal worth upwards of £350,000. He’s still not scored a single goal for Hibs. Yes, half a season was spent on loan back at Swindon while the player has also had health issues to contend with. But that’s still a remarkable stat for a striker.
Junior Hoilett has been one of the few success stories in a green and white shirt since his summer move to Leith. The vastly experienced winger netted Canada’s winner against Suriname on Friday and has shown plenty to suggest there’s some wing wizardry left in his legs yet. But he’ll be 35 next summer.
As will Dwight Gayle. The former Newcastle striker arrived on an emergency deal as a free agent in September to plug the gap left by the unfortunate injury to marquee signing Kieron Bowie. One goal has been netted from five appearances. But like Hibs overall, he needs to be producing much better.
Add in a handful of first team youngsters currently out on loan at the minute who will also be out of contract next summer, the likes of Josh O’Connor, Murray Aiken and Kyle McClelland, and it all points to another major rebuild next summer with little in the way of fees coming in to help.