Yogi to be Mains man for Hibees

Published on Thursday 11 June 2009 10:14

NEW Hibs boss John Hughes today admitted he'd been blown away to discover just how much the Easter Road club has grown since his days as club captain.

As Hughes was released by former boss Alex McLeish almost exactly nine years ago, the new main stand at the Leith ground was still under construction while he and his team-mates scoured Edinburgh on a daily basis looking for training facilities.

The 6million stand which replaced an 80-year-old structure has, of course, now been in place for some time but it's the state-of-the art training centre at East Mains near Tranent which has really caught Hughes' imagination.

But, Hughes revealed, even the behind-the-scenes operation at Easter Road, unseen by the majority of supporters, has opened his eyes.

He said: "The whole thing is night and day, the support structure which is in place is really phenomenal.

"And I have to say the I was really taken aback by the training facilities. When I was here as a player we were training at Wardie. It was the time that you knew, putting the goalposts on the top of the minibus but that in itself built team spirit.

"We trained at a number of venues, Wardie, Hawkhill and so on but to walk into those state-of-the-art facilities at East Mains was fantastic."

Yogi intends to put the East Lothian centre, complete with five full-sized grass pitches, an international standard astroturf surface complete with floodlights, not to mention the massive gym, hydrotherapy pool, steam room and all the rest to full use. He said: "I want this place to be open at nine, no, eight o'clock in the morning and shutting at ten at night. I am at my best coaching.

"If I am out there in the fresh air, whether it is rain, snow or shine then I'll be happy. I want to be there as one of the guys, the coaches will do their coaching but I want to take an interest in everything that's going on.

"I am one of those guys who wants to be round the club, but I am not someone who shoots from the hip, I'll be involving everyone, same as I did at Falkirk.

"Everyone has a part to play in the success of the club, from the bottom to the top. That way you get people who want to come in to their work because they feel they have a part to play.

"At the end of the day, I live or die by my decisions and results, but everyone has a part to play, a contribution to make."

While Hughes would love to see pre-season training begin tomorrow, he'll have to wait until July 2 for his squad to report back – but he's already started work on assessing his squad, insisting he's delighted with the standard of player he inherited from Mixu Paatelainen, and deciding what needs to be done.

The goalkeeping situation, with Yves Ma-Kalambay the only experienced player for that position on the books at present, is a priority, as will be trying to persuade both skipper Rob Jones and Scotland striker Steven Fletcher their immediate futures remain at Easter Road.

He said: "Everyone starts afresh. I have to evaluate what I have and I am sure one or two will surprise me when I work closely with them. It would be unfair for me to say I am going to do this or that, I have to give everyone the opportunity."

Hughes knows full well he'll have to work within a tightening budget, but that's a challenge he's ready to meet, pointing out how in six years at Falkirk he spent only 120,000 in the transfer market.

He said: "I've never been a cheque book manager, I think that makes you lazy. I worked within a budget at Falkirk and never went over it. There's nothing better than Brian Rice (his assistant] and I getting in the car, going down south and taking in games. I am a coach first and foremost but I enjoy the business side of things, seeing what the best deals are out there.

"I've already started the plates spinning. When the news broke I was becoming Hibs manager the mobile rang non-stop with congratulations. Now it is agents asking me what I am looking for, that's a side of it I enjoy. I know the market, I also used the loan system well at Falkirk and I'll look at doing the same again."