Hibs boss says youth is the key to club's future

COLIN CALDERWOOD insisted today that his players should view his arrival as an opportunity to show their new manager what they can do – and not simply fear the axe from the top team.

The new Easter Road boss has stressed that he is keen to work with the talent that he already has at his disposal and that he believes the youth system at the club is the key to their future success.

Having seen Hibs produce a significant chunk of Scotland's best young talent in recent years, Calderwood is keen to root through the current crop to find the next batch of rising stars.

While acknowledging that he may have to look at bringing some fresh faces in, he said: "Obviously there will be some areas that we will think we are slightly weaker in and we have got to identify them and do something about it.

"But I think that it will be a case of seeing what talent we have already got at the club and identifying the talent coming through the ranks.

"Things like that will become apparent as we play games so it will be an ongoing process, but it is an opportunity for everyone to show their worth.

"No-one is under threat here but they have got to go and show to the best of their ability what they are about.

There is a reason why they have ended up being a professional footballer for Hibernian and I want to see it."

Having seen the likes of Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker and Kevin Thomson come through the ranks and progress to Scotland international level, Calderwood added: "I know that the youth system has worked terrifically well in the recent past and even beyond that so I don't see why we can't continue to produce good young players and give them the opportunity as well.

"What you need is the right environment where these boys can learn the right things. We need the players with more experience to lead the way a bit and if they are good ambassadors of being a professional player then the young ones have got a better chance of developing into that.

"You only learn things by following an example, by seeing other people doing certain things in terms of how you should be living your life.

"There is a big advantage in that sense in having players from abroad because they give you a different lifestyle and way to play the game. You have got to embrace all of that.

"So, at the moment, it is all about who is already here and each and every single one of them having a right good go at getting into the team."