Hibs snatch a trio of signings
Hibernian appear this weekend to have snapped up a trio of signings!

HIBERNIAN THIS AFTERNOON admitted that they were close to clinching a deal with Watford star Stephen Glass.  Interest in the former Aberdeen and Newcastle player was first indicated by Hibs.net in over a month ago, when Glass was spotted out on the town - in particular at the surgery of the club doctor - with former Aberdeen team-mate Gary Smith.  Today the club used the official web site to indicate that an agreement with Glass had been reached and the player was expected to complete formalities early next week.  We can also reveal today that Glass will not be the only new arrival, as previously indicated by Hibs.net we also understand that the club have also reached agreement with Andy McLaren, the former Kilmarnock winger confirming today that he had indeed signed a deal with Hibernian, thought to be a two-year contract.

And to complete a weekend of good news for Hibs fans, we also understand that Dundee have agreed to release goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.  Langfield has fallen out of favour at Dens Park and it is now believed that Hibs offer for the player has been accepted by Dundee boss Jim Duffy.  All three players are expected to be paraded early this week as the first major signings of the summer for Hibs boss Bobby Williamson.  Of the three signings, it is that of Glass that will be seen as the most significant, with the player also being linked with city rivals Hearts in recent days.  However Hibs appear to have moved swiftly to ensure that the player was not snatched from their grasp.  Glass turned out 106 times for Aberdeen before moving to Newcastle United where he turned out 43 times in the English Premiership, scoring 7 goals.  A move to Watford saw Glass turn out 43 times, including in last season's FA Cup run where he demonstrated his dead-ball ability in deadly fashion, something that Hibs fans have not seen since Franck Sauzee was at the club.

A UK Cup dream is over for Real Maroon today (hibs.net)

In this morning's 'Saturday Live' show on Radiohibs.net, former Hibee Paul Kane gave his own opinion on Glass, a player Kane played alongside at Aberdeen in the 1990's.  "Stephen was always a quality player," Kano said, adding: "He would do a great job for Hibs, he did well at Aberdeen and again at Newcastle where I think injury limited his appearances.  Again at Watford he did reasonably well, so he will certainly be a good signing for Hibs."  Kane meanwhile revealed that he has plans to bring Sauzee back to Easter Road - for one match only!  The former Hibee, who will tomorrow lead the Hibs senior side into the annual six-a-side competition won by Hibs last season, has been asked by the club to organise a team of former Hibees to take on Hearts as a warm-up game to the Festival Cup match at Easter Road.  Kane is keen to invite the likes of John Collins and Stevie Archibald to take part in that game, and he also revealed that an invitation would be sent out to Franck Sauzee in a move that if accepted is sure to add thousands to the gate for the pre-season match.

Erin Hibs line up before their superb 3-1 win over city rivals Real Maroon (hibs.net)

There was more good news today for Hibs fans, as the Internet Hibs supporters team Erin Hibs progressed to the final of the UK National cup for the second time in three years - and their semi-final win was all the sweeter as it came against the Hearts side Real Maroon!  It was a hard-fought and highly entertaining match in which Erin Hibs twice had what appeared to be cast-iron penalty claims turned down.  However the Hibees took the lead with around 20 minutes remaining, the 'Legend' Mike Gallagher challenging the excellent Hearts goalkeeper in the air and taking advantage of his only fumble of the game to bundle the ball over the line.  Hearts though bounced back with an equaliser within minutes, however Hibs restored their lead when Jon Valentine rose superbly to strongly head home a corner with five minutes remaining.  Hearts threw all the had at the Hibs defence, and that included runs upfield the Real Maroon goalkeeper - a move that was to prove costly when some quick thinking by Jamie Montgomery just inside his own half resulted in a clincher for Hibs in the last minute.  Spotting the goalkeeper had left his area, Montgomery sent a looping lob that ended in the back of the net in spite of despairing attempts by the Hearts defence to halt its progress!

Erin Hibs now face Kilmarnock in the final, to be played in Leeds on July 18th.