New Hibs manager will inherit squad with 16 deals running out

• Derek Riordan, Colin Nish and Valdas Trakys all have deals which expire over the next 12 months

Whoever succeeds John Hughes in the Easter Road hotseat will have to work with the players who were at his predecessor's disposal at least until the January transfer window opens but would have scope to conduct a radical overhaul, if he so chooses, next summer.

But the new manager will have to act quickly to tie up those stars he wishes to remain in Edinburgh with an astonishing 16 of those under currently under contract free to speak to other clubs in little more than two months' time.

In addition, Jonathan Grounds is on a short-term loan from English Championship side Middlesbrough and is due to return to The Riverside when the window opens in mid- season.

Astonishingly, not one of Hibs' frontmen has a deal beyond next May. Fans idol Derek Riordan and Colin Nish are now in the final year of their contracts while the much- travelled Lithuanian striker Valdas Trakys, the final signing of Hughes' 16-month reign, penned a one-season deal as did Ghanaian internationalist Francis Dickoh.

Likewise, Darryl Duffy signed a season-long loan deal from Bristol Rovers but has yet to kick a ball in anger for Hibs after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot.

As things stand, only goalkeeper Mark Brown, Hughes' three summer signings Edwin de Graaf, Michael Hart and David Stephens, along with utility man Ian Murray and Scotland Under-21 stars Paul Hanlon and David Wotherspoon will be pulling on a green-and-white shirt at the start of next season.

The lengthy list of stars whose contracts are currently winding down includes goalkeepers Graham Stack and Graeme Smith, club captain Chris Hogg, Ivory Coast stopper Sol Bamba and Steven Thicot.

De Graaf and Wotherspoon would be left as the only recognised midfield players with Merouane Zemmama, Liam Miller, Kevin McBride, John Rankin, Danny Galbraith and Lewis Stevenson all presently pondering what the future may hold.

When challenged by a shareholder at the club's annual meeting, chairman Rod Petrie, however, appeared relaxed over the situation, insisting the length of players' contracts had been discussed with Hughes and adding the "what we have in the playing squad reflects the philosophy of the man who has been at the helm".

Petrie argued that while there was no "perfect formula or answer" to how many players should be in the final phase of their contract at any one time, but added: "One manager's view might be different from another manager's."

Meanwhile, former Aston Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald has become the latest name to be added to an ever-growing list of possible candidates for the post, confirming Petrie's prediction earlier this week that the prospect of becoming the next Hibs manager would be highly attractive.