Hibs kid Booth glad he stuck out loan spell

Hibs kid Callum Booth today revealed how he feared his Easter Road career was coming to an end after he was farmed out on loan for a second time.

Having returned from spending the second half of last season with Arbroath, the 19-year-old was informed by then boss John Hughes he'd again be playing in the Second Division with Brechin City as the new campaign got under way.

And with his contract due to expire this summer, Booth admitted he wondered if that decision would signal the end of his association with a club he had joined at the age of just ten. Today, though, Booth is celebrating not only a new long-term deal which ties him to Hibs until the summer of 2015 but beginning to establish himself as a regular in the SPL alongside his former Under-19 team-mates Paul Hanlon and David Wotherspoon.

However, as Hanlon and Wotherspoon stepped immediately from youth football to the top flight, Booth was left contemplating his own long-term future as he headed for Arbroath and then Brechin.

Asked if he ever felt he might not get the chance to star with Hibs, the left back said: "Under the old manager I was told before the start of the season I'd be going out on loan again. My contract was up in the summer, he'd put me out on loan already so it obviously crosses your mind.

"But you just need to get on with it, go on loan, work hard and make sure he has no option but to pull you in if he is getting good reports and you are doing well in training."

Booth certainly did enough to impress Hughes' successor Colin Calderwood, the new manager having no hesitation in rewarding the youngster with a four-and-a-half year contract and a first team place, the player's aim now to stay there throughout the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, Hughes has revealed his interest in returning to management with English League Two outfit Bradford City, the Bantams having announced this week that current boss Peter Taylor will be leaving following today's match with Stockport County.

Hughes, who has been out of work since leaving Hibs "by mutual consent" in October, is among the favourites for the post. He said: "I would definitely be interested, they are a massive club, It was a massive disappointment what happened at Hibs but I wish I could walk back into management today.