9am Briefing: Hibs boss hopes 6-6 embarrassment isn't repeated

HIBS manager John Hughes admits he never again wants to be put through the embarrassment of losing a four-goal lead, following his team's capitulation in Wednesday's incredible 6-6 draw with Motherwell.

Hughes, whose side led 6-2 with just 25 minutes remaining at Fir Park, said: "I've never been in a game like that before and I never want to be involved in one like that ever again. I'm a positive guy and I try to see the best in people, but I've got mixed emotions from that game – it feels like a defeat.

"There were one or two individual errors and these things happen, but we should have been good enough to have seen it out.

"To come to Fir Park and score six goals with Colin Nish scoring a hat-trick was good – you can't ask any more of the forward players than that. But we need to be more resolute and show a better strength of character."

New deal for Novikovas

HEARTS winger Arvydas Novikovas has signed a new three-year contract with the club.

The 19-year-old, who has been named in the Lithuania squad for this month's friendly against Ukraine, is now tied to Tynecastle until the summer of 2013.

Novikovas made his first-team debut in the Jambos' final game of last season at Celtic and has gone on to make 12 further appearances this term.

His last outing came two months ago in the 1-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Dundee United.

Weir is oldest award winner

DAVID WEIR has become the oldest ever winner of the Scottish Football Writers Association Player of the Year Award.

The evergreen Rangers captain, who turns 40 on Monday, will pick up the award on Sunday, hours after lifting the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy.

Weir is out of contract this summer and he insists he is at a loss as to whether he will still be at Ibrox next season.

"I'm keen to play on and enjoy it," he said. "But it would have to be right for me and not just for the sake of it. Until something is put in front of me, I can't give a definitive answer."