Hibs boss hails decision against Stokes' ban

Hibs' top scorer pleaded his case in person before the SFA's disciplinary committee after being cited to appear to answer a charge of "reckless and dangerous" behaviour after a challenge on Celtic's Landry N'Guemo.

Although referee Stephen Finnie missed the incident, Hoops boss Neil Lennon described it as "a shocker" and SFA president George Peat reported the matter to a television review panel which ruled the 21-year-old had a case to answer.

As such the Republic of Ireland striker ran the risk of being hit by a retrospective red card which, in addition to an automatic one-match ban, would have pushed him through the disciplinary points limit adding another game suspension.

With the season finished that would have meant Stokes, who scored 23 goals in helping Hibs finish fourth and into Europe, missing the first two games of next season.

However, the disciplinary committee decided Stokes' action, for which he apologised immediately to N'Guemo, was worthy of no more than a booking, taking his points total to 12 and allowing him to begin next season with a clean slate.

Today Hughes said: "It's good news, you could see from the video there was no malice, only a wee half-slip. We thought it might merit a yellow card and so we made our case.

"I was surprised Anthony was reported as there was no complaint from Celtic and I'd like to think this was a victory for common sense. I don't think trial by television is really fair, the cameras aren't going to be at every game in Scotland every week.

"But it's done and dusted, the decision will allow Anthony to go away in a real positive frame of mind and enjoy meeting up with the Republic of Ireland squad for four days at the end of the week."

Meanwhile, Hughes described reports linking him with Carlisle United defender Richard Keogh as "news to me." Although United are keen to retain the 23-year-old, he has yet to agree a new contract.