Uncertainty for Leigh Griffiths as Eoin Doyle signs
Eoin Doyle
On-loan Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths has admitted he faces an uncertain future – on the day Irish hitman Eoin Doyle became new Easter Road boss Pat Fenlon’s first signing.
Fenlon snapped up 23-year-old Doyle on an 18-month contract after the forward, who scored 25 goals for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland season just ended, impressed during this week’s trial in Edinburgh.
However, Doyle won’t go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s SPL clash against Dundee United as he will have to wait until the transfer window opens, leaving him with the mouthwatering prospect of a baptism of fire in the January 2 derby with Hearts.
But, while Doyle was settling into his new surroundings, the clock is ticking on Griffiths’ stay with Hibs, his loan deal from Wolves due to end in January, with the Scotland Under-21 star having been told he’s up for sale.
Griffiths was given the shock news in a phone call from Molineux boss Mick McCarthy, who told him he didn’t see him forcing his way into his first-team plans despite having spent a reported £150,000 to take him from Dundee less than a year ago.
Today Griffiths admitted he’d been stunned by McCarthy’s decision, claiming he feels he hasn’t been given the opportunity to prove himself in the English Premier League.
The former Livingston player said: “Mr McCarthy phoned me last week and I have to admit it was a bit of a blow. He signed me last January and although I didn’t think I was ready for the first team I played in the reserves and thought I’d given a good account of myself.
“I came up here in August and I think I’ve done reasonably well but I really only had seven months at Wolves to prove myself so it is disappointing. There’s guys at Wolves like Steven Fletcher, Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, all international players, so I can’t complain about them being ahead of me but it is still a bit of a blow.”
Griffiths has four more matches in a green and white shirt before his loan deal expires: tomorrow’s match at Tannadice, the visit of Inverness Caley on Wednesday, the derby, and the start of Hibs’ Scottish Cup campaign against Cowdenbeath on January 2.
McCarthy, who signed Hearts’ Eggert Jonsson this week, has said a couple of Scottish clubs have expressed an interest in Griffiths and he will be open to bids, leaving the player himself pondering his future.
He said: “If Hibs want to buy me it is up to them or anyone else who wants me.
“What I have to do is try not to let this distract me, to keep my head down, hopefully score a few goals and see what happens.”
Fenlon will no doubt wait to see what interest in Griffiths transpires before considering his next move in regard to the player although he’s already spoken to McCarthy about extending his loan deal.
But if other clubs were to step in with offers of hard cash then Hibs would presumably have to at least match those bids if they wish to retain the services of the former Livingston striker who grew up supporting Hibs.
Fenlon’s strikeforce has already been depleted by the departure of Ghana internationalist Junior Agogo although the club have yet to confirm his exit.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Scottish independence: Labour voters ‘will deliver independence’
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
- Rangers administration: End game nears for fallen icon
- Tom English: ‘A mammoth investigation, so vast that it is without parallel in the history of the Scottish game’
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 17 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Phil C
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 10:29 PMHe's blown a bit hot and cold for Hibs, but if Leigh accepts sensible pay then I would more than welcome him at Easter Road. He's fast and keen and can cause trouble to defences, but he needs to learn to shoot at the goal, avoiding the keeper. ....................................................................... O'Connor won't hang around if he finds his shooting boots and gets a better offer. Looks unlikely the way he's playing just now and Leigh and Doyle could be a decent Irish partnership up front, with Big G as back-up. But having not even seen Doyle, wha kens? Hopefully Paddy does!
nott-hamishh
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 07:38 PMWhy don't they sign the legendary Boydy?! He's a 'goal-scoring machine' in the mickey mouse SPL - that's his level. Couldn't hack it in the english 'second division' with m'bro or nottm forest - complete dud - or with the turkish mob! What a joke but he'll come back here and be a 'sensation' again scoring at will against the likes of dunfermline who lost 1-5 at home to man u's third team a season or so ago!! What a farce it all is. Still if he goes to cel'ic he'll keep lennon in a job for a while as long as he can score against st mirren, dunfermline, inverness etc!!
themanwith2brains
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 06:49 PMand why would hibs go to cornbeef on the 2nd when thats the day of derby ya baw bag
what a chancer
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 06:30 PMwell is it the managers or the players,imo if the players are good then the team sheet would be similar and subs leaving because they cant get a start,a decent manager can only ask a poor team to defend and hit back at a given oppertunity.should have had a draw last week but the clubs prospers with the points while the player gets a ban,all wrong.
jbwsevennil
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 05:50 PMI have supported and backed Hibernianfc boards for Fiffty years but if they do not sign up LEIGH for the sake of a few bob I think they should resign en mass ,enoughs enough.
leith walk
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 05:12 PM18 mnths contract Pat Fenlon gets 3 years shouldnt it be the other way round .The way we have been going through managers,If Eoin Doyle is a sucsess with us an scores lots of goals .We wont get much if any transfer fee for him.Its a fact we are a selling club an have been since Ive suported the club .Any decent players we have are sold on .Have a great Christmas an Newyear everyone..
seenitawb4
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 04:07 PMPetrie wont pay him any where near his salary at wolves...unless an extension on the loan deal...then Griffiths will see out his (lucrative) contract sitting on his ass !! Fenlon seems to think "boy wonder" Doyle is the biz for the derby.....time will tell !! wend forecast.....HMFC 2 M-well 1.....D.Utd 2 Hibs NIL......derby Hibs NIL HMFC 8 hohoho merry xmas and a grrrrr8888888tttt new year to one and all !!!!
ianfaeclerrie
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 02:18 PMhe's got more of a sense of urgency up front than anyone we've had for a while. He and Gary were beginning to play well together - they reduced their arguments to two a game
Dragonlord
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 02:05 PMCan't see the Tach spending money on him. Plus he would want more the Hibs are willing to pay. Doyle is his replacement and he will be off after the loan ends.
Portsmouth 657
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 01:39 PMPlease sign him - hibs need more of his sort...
jbwsevennil
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:28 PM#5 Cowardly imposter
jbwsevennil
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:27 PMWarning dont sign for Hearts it will damage your families health.
Iain Bhern
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:25 PMNo surprise Wolves have put him up for sale, he's simply not good enough for the EPL, possibly not even for the SPL. I think being with Dundee in the first division was pretty much his level.
Rudolf Hucker
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:22 PMWarning...DONT go to Cowdenbeath on the 2nd
bfggyfua7
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 12:04 PMComment removed by moderator
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.