Hughes warns Hibs stars: Shape up or ship out

Hughes will confront his squad at the club's East Mains Training Centre today and he won't be sparing anyone's feelings as he spells out just what he expects after that tame surrender at New Douglas Park.

He said: "I won't be ranting or raving, it will just be plain talking. I won't say anything in public I am not prepared to say to their faces.

"Since I arrived at the club I've been walking around with my slippers on, now the gloves are off. It's my job to get this right and I need to make sure everyone knows what is required at this football club.

"On what I have seen since I came in, one or two have to be taking a real look in the mirror and start to appreciate this club. It is not here for them, they are here for Hibs.

"Over the next few months I have some big decisions to make and the fans are going to have to trust me. There will be more comings and goings. It is a case of 'shape up or ship out'.

"There are times when you are beaten, like the other week by Celtic when, although some things could have been done better, you see the effort which was put in so you can take it on the chin.

"But yesterday was the same problem as I feel it has been for the last couple of years: we are not all for one and one for all. We have individuals playing for themselves, one or two think they are better than they are, that the game owes them something.

"The game owes you absolutely nothing, you have to earn through your effort and commitment and I'll be telling them to their faces."

What was particularly galling for Hughes was that he had warned his players repeatedly in the build-up to yesterday's games of the potential pitfalls of facing an Accies side without a point from their opening three matches.

He said: "We talked about it, how that it was a hard place to go, that they'd be up for the game and we'd have to be ready.

"I'd identified a need for us to be resolute, to have a bit of steel and to have a real spirit among the players the moment I walked through the door, that desire to impose yourself on the game, all the fundamentals of winning the battle first, to be able to look over your shoulder and see your team-mate there, to ensure the opposition know they are going to be in a game. I spoke of yesterday being a real test of character; a game, should we win it, which could be a springboard to kick on and we failed, more than one or two let themselves down.

"Instead, Hamilton hustled us, they worked ever so hard, dictated the game and deserved everything they got although I have to say the goals we lost were amateur stuff.

"I'm not going to patronise the fans. If everyone at this club is true to themselves they will see it and knows what needs to be done and I have to do it."

Hughes didn't exclude himself from criticism, revealing he'll be thinking long and hard about the team he put out.

He said: "Did I put out too many flair players? I went with the team I thought could get us the result."

Meanwhile, Hibs' Under-19 team continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 0-0 draw against Celtic.