Kick racism out of the park!
As one player goes, another looks set to return in the nick of time....

LAST WEEKEND WAS A GREAT ONE FOR SCOTTISH FOOTBALL AS A WHOLE.  And no before you ask not because Hibs managed to win against Jim Jeffries’ Kilmarnock side (although that was a plus point!) but because all SPL clubs campaigned for Show Racism the Red Card.  This is indeed a worthy campaign for clubs not just here in Scotland but all over the world.  Racism is something that football fans want kept out of the game and this campaign is a step towards achieving that.  The campaign which began in 1996 has helped to begin the fight against the racism that infects our beloved game.

This is one of the good things people can see at the moment from Scottish football that a campaign such as Show Racism the Red Card has been used.  But it is not only Scottish Football that has leant its support to the campaign.  Top players in the English Premiership have spoken out on the site dedicated to the red card campaign www.redcard.org such as Rio Ferdinand, Kieron Dyer, Alan Shearer and a man from North of the Border, Henrik Larsson.  Henrik Larsson who plays in our own league answered questions about whether he had experienced racism both in and out of the game.  He has in both his work environment from fans and when he was growing up.  But he had this to say on the website with regard to people around him in life.  “Of course you can't like everybody, that’s impossible; but in terms of colour, to not like somebody because he or she has a different skin - that's stupid. You have to look beyond that because as a human being you have to experience the person from the inside first.”  Wise words indeed.

Set to be a Hibby again?  (sns)

There have been the disgusting moments in football that show the ugly side of the game as far as racism is concerned.  I have never seen or heard any racist abuse at Easter Road or any other ground I have been at.  I have been lucky enough never to have had the misfortune of hearing such abuse.  But the high profile cases of things like monkey chants at black players which we have seen in Scotland brings the issue to the fore and it is something which I like many feel must be tackled, immediately.

The definition of racism is according to the Collins dictionary: “Antagonism towards members of a different race.”  Let this antagonism stop not just in the game of football that we all love but also in wider society.  If football fans stand up when they hear this what I feel is disgusting treatment of their fellow man then maybe things can start to change.  Maybe that’s being farfetched? Hopefully it isn’t.

In other news it looks like Gary Caldwell could once again be a Hibernian player.  The Newcastle United youngster has been told that his career with the club is all but over and he is looking at a return to Easter Road where his performances earned him an international call up.  "There are a few bits and pieces to be tied up, but I am in talks with Hibs and hopefully something can be done by Friday," said Caldwell. "It would be great if everything could be done in time for the match this Saturday.  If something is to happen, it would be a case of me leaving Newcastle and moving to Hibs until the end of the season. It would be great to come back to Hibs and it would also keep me in the eye of the national manager. I need to be playing, and that is the aim."  The departure of goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard to Luton Town on a free transfer could free up the cash that could be used to bring Caldwell back to Edinburgh on a permanent basis after his previous loan spell with the club.

Roland Edge is also looking towards a return to the Hibs first team.  The player was meant to play in an under 21’s game on Monday night but had to pull out after feeling some discomfort during training.

Live radio commentary will be back on air tomorrow from RadioHibs with the station that is now part of the club's official communication stream kicking off it's live output at 10am.  Saturday Live will be on air from 12noon with the pre-match build up including exclusive interviews before John Campbell takes those fans unable to make it to Easter Road through the game from around 2.30pm.