Net Hibees face the Jambos
(Stuart Crowther)

SPL FOOTBALL WILL RETURN on Sunday for the Hibees, and much as the interlude for the international game is enjoyed by some the majority will be pleased enough to get back to the business of seeking league points.

For one group of Hibs fans though, the serious business resumes on Saturday morning, as the high-flying team formed from Hibs fans on the internet will play host to city rivals Hearts at the Jack Kane Centre in Edinburgh (kick off 10.30am).  Hearts are the new boys at this level, their side only recently formed following an appeal on the Jambos.Net web site.  Attempts have been made in the past to form a side, the first resulting in a 16-2 thumping from the Erin Hibs side while the second consisted largely of 'ringers' - but Erin Hibs refused to use that as an excuse for the narrow single-goal defeat!

Erin Hibs have become the team everyone wants to beat in Scotland - but nobody wants to play!  Such is the quality of the Erin Hibs side, they are finding it increasingly difficult to find opponents willing to face them, usually on the morning of the 'main event' whoever and wherever Hibernian are playing.  The internet sides recent exploits have taken them to the semi-final of the Internet Football Association cup, where they will face Birmingham probably in May.

Erin Hibs FC - the team line-up before facing Arsenal recently (hibs.net)

A decent Hearts side will be a welcome addition to those clubs in Scotland who compete at this level, and the simple fact that it is a Hibs v Hearts clash should be enough to fire up both sides, and hopefully a few fans will go along to Niddrie and offer some encouragement!

Elsewhere today, Russell Latapy is on his way back to Scotland after suffering the disappointment of a 3-0 World Cup defeat at the hands of Costa Rica last night.  The defeat is the second suffered by the Trinidad and Tobago squad, and makes qualification for the finals difficult.  With the Scottish transfer deadline now upon us, Hibs fans will at least know one way or another within the next 48 hours if Latapy is returning to play for Hibernian or, as has been tipped in most of the media, Celtic.

One player who has departed the club is Canadian Emilio Bottiglieri.  As revealed some weeks ago exclusively by Hibs.net, Bottiglieri, who has failed to break into the first team, was not to have his contract renewed at the end of the season.  The 22-year-old will now join East Fife until the end of the season, the club he had a highly successful loan spell with earlier this year.

Hibs today confirmed that Scottish Cup semi-final tickets will go on sale on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week to season ticket holders, and to open sale thereafter.  There will be no limit placed on the number of tickets each fan may purchase.