Hughes hunts next Hibs star as Fletcher ships out

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 09:58

HIBS boss John Hughes today watched Steven Fletcher head for Burnley in a £3million move and immediately declared: "It's up to me to find the next one."

While admitting he was disappointed to lose the 22-year-old Scotland striker, Hughes insisted the deal was "a good bit of business," particularly at a time when SPL clubs are having to contend with the collapse of television firm Setanta and the financial implications involved.

Hughes had been hoping to speak to Fletcher, whose Easter Road contract ran until 2013, amid renewed speculation regarding his future with the hope of persuading him to remain in Edinburgh for at least another season.

But, while he never got that opportunity, Hughes insisted he'd been kept fully abreast of developments with Burnley manager Owen Coyle, a firm personal friend, having initially informed him of the Clarets' interest.

Pointing out that, although Fletcher's departure will be painful for the fans, Hibs aren't exactly impoverished in terms of a strikeforce, Hughes also called on youngsters Kurtis Byrne and Patrick Dean, newly promoted from the club's highly successful Under-19 side, to see his exit as an opportunity for themselves.

He said: "I feel it was a good bit of business but, on the other hand, we will miss him. He's a quality player but I also understand the business side of the game."

Hughes knows full well that, following the sales of players such as Garry O'Connor, Kevin Thomson, Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker, Ivan Sproule and David Murphy in recent years, Fletcher's move will be regarded once again as Hibs cashing in on what he described as the "benchmark" for youth development in Scotland.

He said: "I understand as a supporter myself how the fans feel seeing a wonderful young player moving on but I think every club in Scotland is a selling club.

"I would have loved the opportunity to work with Steven but the speculation over his future has been going on for 18 months now and the English Premier League is a big carrot for any young player. We wish him well but a lot of people at Hibs have to take great credit for bringing him to the club and nurturing him over the years.

"Yes, there's a wee tinge of disappointment but we still have the likes of Derek Riordan, Colin Nish, Jonatan Johansson, Abdessalem Benjelloun is coming back and hopefully also Merouane Zemmama. We've also got the two youngsters coming up from the Under-19s and I was reading Kurtis saying he fancies his chances.

"It's now up to me to produce the next Steven Fletcher, to see what's coming through the system."

Rather than immediately demand a slice of the Fletcher transfer fee to reinvest in his squad, Hughes made it clear he'll carry out a thorough assessment of the squad, augmented by the signing of Patrick Cregg, he inherited from Mixu Paatelainen.

That process begins when the players return for pre-season training tomorrow and only then will Hughes begin reshaping his pool of players. He said: "I hope the fans will be patient and trusting.

"I know they want a team that excites them, a side which plays the way we feel Hibs should play. It's my job to put my own stamp on the team. I'll be looking to see what is there and what we need to enhance it.

"It's a non-stop process, it doesn't happen overnight."