Hibs Manager still sure club will rival Old Firm

JOHN Hughes has boldly predicted that Hibs will challenge the Old Firm's SPL dominance and compete on the European stage under his tenure despite their latest Scottish Cup heartbreak.

The Easter Road manager is surveying the wreckage of Tuesday's quarter-final replay 2-1 defeat at first division Ross County as a campaign that started so well is in danger of petering out.

Hibs return to league action at Hughes' former club Falkirk this weekend looking to keep the pressure on Dundee United and Motherwell in the race for third place.

And Hughes, who signed a three year contract last summer, is adamant that the club's supporters will enjoy success during his stewardship.

He said: "If I get the opportunity to see out my vision then I will be taking this club into European spots, challenging the Old Firm and getting to the latter stages of cup competitions. If not, I've failed.

"I've got this vision where I want to take this club and we're miles away from where I want to be. I've got a great love for the club and that brings pressure itself but I didn't get the job because I was a great Hibs supporter and captained the club. I think I got it on merit after what I did at my old club and the hard work I put in, and I will bring hard work to this club.

"Hibernian football club should not be going up to first division teams and getting turned over, not in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup. I'm just wondering if it hurts them enough."

Hughes concedes a barren run of one win in nine matches that stretches back to the start of February is not good enough for a club of Hibs' stature. He said: "It's obvious we're not playing at our best at this moment in time, what do you do? You just need to get on with it."