Hibs count cost of early cup exits

Although stressing Hibs' budgets aren't based on expecting extended Cup runs - although everyone obviously hopes that will be the outcome - Lindsay admitted the defeats by Kilmarnock and Ayr United will have a "significant" effect.

Only 4074 fans watched the League Cup clash at Rugby Park and the two Scottish Cup matches against Second Division Ayr attracted a total of just 9,882 with prices for the two ties having been slashed to 15 for adults and 10 for concessions.

Hibs were entitled to half the gate money, after expenses. on each occasion, but it is obvious the Cup competitions have hardly proved money-spinners for Hibs this season.

Although the 82,500 Hibs will have picked up from Sky Sports as their share of the fee to televise the replay from Somerset Park, the fact remains that the Easter Road club have only made the quarter-finals in either competition just once in the past three years, knocked out at that stage of last season's Scottish Cup by First Division Ross County following home ties against Junior outfit Irvine Meadow and Third Division Montrose, both matches which, again, didn't attract bumper crowds at reduced prices.

Lindsay said: "We do factor in an element of cup participation, nothing crazy like predicting a semi-final or final every year because to do that could put you in a difficult place.

"But yes, it is extremely disappointing and of course it does have an impact on our revenues. In the last few years we have disappointed ourselves and our supporters in cup competition when it had looked as if we had good opportunities to go further."

Having said that, though, Lindsay, who, as the Evening News revealed yesterday, insisted the board of directors will continue to provide manager Colin Calderwood with as much financial support as possible as he begins reshaping his squad, was adamant the greater disappointment to everyone within Easter Road was being knocked out of the cups at an early stage.