Brown looks to make his mark at Hibs

NEW Hibs goalkeeper Mark Brown today revealed how Easter Road boss John Hughes has been on his trail for three years, finally landing his man at the second attempt.

Hughes impressed Brown hugely as he attempted to persuade the 28-year-old to join him at Falkirk only to lose out as Celtic forked out a six-figure sum to lure him from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. So there was no way Brown was going to pass up a second chance when Hughes came calling this time round, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal which will see him battle with Graham Stack, Graeme Smith and Yves Ma-Kalambay for the gloves.

He said: "I was going into the last six months of my contract with Caley in 2007 and I spoke to the gaffer when he was manager of Falkirk about potentially going there.

"He really impressed me with his enthusiasm, not just for football but all the things behind the scenes, sports science and all that stuff. I could have been a Falkirk player but it wasn't meant to be because Celtic then made their move. But thankfully I've got the opportunity this time to work with him and I'm really looking forward to it."

Having made 170 appearances for Caley, Brown found first-team opportunities at Celtic Park limited, playing just 13 matches before spending the first half of this season on loan at Kilmarnock.

However, with his future in the east end of Glasgow looking bleak, Brown negotiated his release, paving the way to become the second goalkeeper signed by Hughes, pictured below left, in the past month following the capture of Smith from Brighton.

Brown said: "It all seems to have gone through very quickly but it has taken a couple of weeks, Hibs speaking to Celtic about my future and the prospect of me leaving at this time.

"I don't want to go into too much detail, but there were some loose ends to be tied up and I was just delighted it all went through before the transfer window closed and now I can concentrate on my football."

Brown's deal was concluded in time for him to watch Saturday's victory over St Mirren from the comfort of the Easter Road directors' box, the last-gasp win merely serving to convince him he'd made the right move.

He said: "Watching from a distance in the first half of the season and the players Hibs have brought in this definitely looks a club which is on the up.

"I played against Hibs a couple of times for Killie and they've been fantastic. They play great football and with the strikers they have they are always liable to get goals.

"There's also a winning mentality which is obvious from the two late goals scored to beat Celtic and then St Mirren. There's that spirit and character that you don't give up. Look at the successful teams, they seem to score a lot of goals towards 90 minutes and beyond, they don't settle for a point but keep going right to the end."

Brown may be the new face but he's found many familiar figures in his new dressing-room. He said: "I know Derek Riordan from his spell at Celtic and he is a fantastic finisher as is Anthony Stokes who scored a lot of goals at Falkirk and is doing so again with Hibs. There's guys like Liam Miller who has played at Manchester United, and they don't come any bigger in this country, who brings great experience which will rub off on others while big Sol Bamba has been a revelation. I know John Rankin from my time in Inverness, I played under-13 football with Kevin McBride at Mill United and alongside Ian Murray at youth level for Scotland. And obviously I know Graeme Smith from our days together as youngsters at Rangers.

"You also get to know guys from playing against them and, to be honest, I feel part of it all already. I don't think it takes long at a football club, wherever you go, the carry on and banter that goes on behind the scenes. I haven't had the chance for a long chat with the gaffer, he was preparing for the game on Friday afternoon when everything came together but he's told me to work hard and enjoy it. There seems a real buzz about the place, Hibs aren't too many points off Celtic in second place so I am really looking forward to being here." After leaving Rangers where he had begun his career 13 years ago in search of first team football, Brown signed on at Motherwell only to find himself one of 19 players released as the Fir Park outfit crashed into administration in 2001.

Five years at Inverness where he established himself as the No.1, winning two Scotland B caps along the way, resulted in Celtic making their move only for Brown to discover, as he had as a youngster at Ibrox, first-team football hard to come by.

Given his experiences with either side of the Old Firm, Brown agrees some may find it strange that he's opted to join a club which already had three goalkeepers, all potentially the No.1 choice.

But, he insisted, he's relishing the challenge of forcing his way into Hughes' plans. He said: "I think any successful team needs a big squad. I think Hibs struggled a bit in the goalkeeping department through injury a wee while ago but now there is strength in depth, a group of goalkeepers all battling it out to be No.1.

"You need that throughout the team and from my first training session it was obvious there's a number of players here desperate for their chance; it will be up to them to push and when it comes to take it.

"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I could do the job and, in any case, I don't think you'd be guaranteed to be No.1 anywhere. You have to do your best and win the right to play. Of course only one goalkeeper can play with another on the bench but if you aren't playing then you don't mump and groan about it, you get your head down and work away.

"Buzz (Graeme Smith] is the man in possession at the moment, he came in at the start of last month, got the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands.

"It's left the rest of us fighting to try to push him all the way and I'm sure that's what the gaffer is looking for from each of us."