John Hughes' vision remains clear

As such, the club manager shares a lingering disappointment that the Edinburgh outfit didn't quite make as much of the season just ended as they threatened to.

But, with the dust having finally settled on the campaign, Hughes insisted he could look back on his first season in charge of the club he's supported all his life with more than a degree of satisfaction.

If the mid-season predictions of third place, perhaps splitting the Old Firm and even a title challenge of their own ultimately didn't materialise, Hughes pointed to the fact that, just as the SPL table doesn't lie when it comes to deciding which teams deserve the honours, it also illustrates the progress made at Easter Road over the past year.

The final league standings show Hibs ending in fourth sport, a distinct improvement on the sixth place they'd occupied in each of the three previous seasons, the 54 points amassed the best since season 2005/06 when the 56 lifted were only enough to take fifth.

Yes, Hughes agrees, it could have been better, much better had the early season form which caught most onlookers by surprise – given it was meant to be a time of transition as he took over from Mixu Paatelainen and following the loss of key players in Scotland striker Steven Fletcher and skipper Rob Jones – been maintained throughout the campaign.

As it was, Hibs had to rely on a final day victory over Dundee United at Tannadice to guarantee a place in next season's Europa League, Hughes admitting: "We made hard work of it, but we got there in the end."

Adding that the Active Nation Scottish Cup loss to First Division Ross County still rankled, a setback which left his players deflated and which took an obvious toll on confidence, Hughes went on: "If you had said to me at the start of the season that we'd have a European place and improved on last year, I'd have said that was a good first season."

Having seen Hibs embark on an unbeaten run of 12 matches which saw them sitting alongside Rangers and Celtic, expectations naturally rose among the Easter Road support only for Hughes to find himself the target for criticism when those hopes and dreams were shattered by a run which saw the team win just two matches in 17. Fuelling the anger were two derby defeats to arch-rivals Hearts within a short space of time, that Cup exit, embarrassingly heavy defeats away to St Johnstone and Hamilton, culminating in surrendering a four-goal lead to draw 6-6 against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Pointing out he'd been the one cautioning against getting too carried away during that halcyon period, Hughes said: "All that talk was coming from elsewhere but as manager of Hibs I'd never shy away from the fact you are always looking for that European spot, pushing the Old Firm as much as you can, trying to get to the latter stages of the Cup and winning a Cup.

"It doesn't happen overnight. Although we got into the top six last season we effectively finished seventh, so we have done better there. I'm the same as any supporter, I want to see it happen overnight but it doesn't happen that way, you have to be patient.

"It's a work in progress."

To illustrate his stance, Hughes highlighted the strides the club has taken since the dark, dark days of the "Hands Off Hibs" campaign successfully fighting then Hearts owner Wallace Mercer's attempted takeover bid.

He said: "All credit to the board of directors and chairmen over the years for making the club solvent, running the business from where we have come to where we are today.

"The club is on an even keel, we have a fantastic training centre of our own and I wandered in to Easter Road to see that new pitch being laid, that new East Stand being built and to be doing that in the financial climate we are in at the moment and the state of the economy is absolutely fantastic.

"I don't see many other clubs doing that. It just shows you how well the business is being run. You can go and be stupid, scatter the cash, but we make sure we are getting a return.

"That's the way it has to be and that's the way it is at this club. Sometimes you can get frustrated but you just need to get on with it."

As laudable as the club's lack of debt and financial security might be, Hughes fully understands it is what will happen on that newly-laid pitch which will count most to supporters and to that end he insisted he won't let the criticism which was directed at him in the latter stages of the season deflect him from the vision he has for Hibs.

Asked about how he dealt with accusations that, among other perceived failings, he didn't know what he was talking about, his tactics were wrong, he was picking the wrong team and he couldn't make changes during a game to alter the outcome, he replied simply: "I'm oblivious to it all because I don't read the newspapers. When I say I am oblivious to it I think you have to be, you have to have a thick skin because I still have my vision, striving to where I want to take this club.

"Everyone thinks it should come in a week, it simply doesn't work like that."

And to those specific barbs, he then added defiantly: "I played the game for years, I've come through all my coaching badges with flying colours.

"I've actually said to the directors I'd like to have a fans forum where I could go through exactly what we did and why, in every single game we played."

Throughout the downward spiral Hughes resolutely refused to criticise his players and, in turn, found himself on the receiving end of the fans' ire as he continually praised the effort, commitment and attitude they'd shown since the day he and his assistant Brian Rice took charge.

And, again, he has no regrets, but believes certain factors were at work as results suffered. He said: "The turn in the weather didn't help us, we conceded too many goals in certain games, I saw heads go down at times and that's not acceptable.

"We are going to have to try to rectify that but we also played some wonderful football throughout the season and scored some great goals.

"We missed Merouane Zemmama, his season just never got going because of injury, in fact he played 90 minutes just five times. Then big Sol Bamba went to the African Cup of Nations and we had one or two injuries and suspensions kick in .

"However, throughout the season you never found me whingeing, it's all part and parcel of football and you have to cope with it.

"One thing, though, I'd never slaughter my players. We have to make this a good place to come and work, somewhere you look forward to coming to and trying to improve as a player.

"You have to remember we are still a young side. As supporters we all have our favourites, we all see different things but do fans want me to do 'a Capello' and mark my players out of ten?

"I will not do that, we win, lose or draw together. It (criticism] goes with the territory but it brings a smile to my face. I'd say leave my players and give it to me, I will take it.

"But for all the boys who were wanting to have a go, I'd like to think one or two are having a look in the mirror now and saying 'that wasn't too bad'."

MATCHES WHICH DEFINED A SEASON

24 October

Rangers 1-1 Hibs

Despite going behind to an eighth minute strike from Kris Boyd, Hibs fought back with Anthony Stokes scoring what was later voted the goal of the season.

27 January

Celtic 1-2 Hibs

The notion that Hibs could split the Old Firm or even mount a title challenge grew as Stokes and a last-minute goal by substitute Danny Galbraith meant Marc-Antoine Fortune's earlier opener counted for nothing.

17 February

St Johnstone 5-1 Hibs

Hibs season began to unravel as Liam Craig and Cillian Sheridan each scored twice while Kenny Deuchar also found the net as Saints ran riot, a goal from Colin Nish, later sent off, was no consolation for John Hughes.

23 March

Ross Co 2-1 Hibs

Although they led twice, Hibs were forced to make the long journey to Dingwall for a Scottish Cup replay following a 2-2 draw at Easter Road only to suffer a humiliating defeat despite Stokes opening the scoring, Garry Wood and Scott Boyd claiming the glory for the Staggies.

9 May

Dundee Utd 0-2 Hibs

Only days after an astonishing 6-6 draw at Motherwell where they had surrendered a four-goal lead, Hibs finally clinched fourth place and Europe with a glory double from Colin Nish, scorer of a hat-trick in that game at Fir Park.