Doumbe signs a new
deal with Dempsie set to sign
HIBS FINALLY REVERSED THE TREND
yesterday and ensured at least one out-of-contract player would be
returning to Easter Road for pre-season training on July 4th. A place
on the Subs bench in the final game of the season against St Johnstone
was a sure sign that Frenchman Mathias Doumbe was doing something to
impress boss Bobby Williamson, and that was underlined when the defender
signed a new 1-year deal.
While turning in some impressive
performances for Hibs Under-21 side last season, Doumbe, who was signed
from PSG a year ago, did not break into the Easter Road first team squad
bar a few fleeting appearances on the bench. Williamson however rates
the player highly, saying of the 22-year-old:
"He has a lot of the attributes, is quick and strong and will be a good
acquisition for the club. It's not obviously up to others in the squad
to try and keep him out but, if he gets the chance, he might just stay
there. Becoming a first team regular must be his target, we need a
squad and it is up to Mathias to earn the right to get into the side."
Easter Road fans will be hoping that
Doumbe's signing will signal the reversal of the trend that has seen
players leave Easter Road with little hope being given on replacements
arriving. Another Easter Road youngster who showed great promise
towards the end of last season was Alan Dempsie, and Williamson is keen
to sign Dempsie on a new deal. Dempsie should receive a call in the
next few days as managing director Rod Petrie plans to talk with the
player's representatives, Williamson saying:
"Rod Petrie is working his way through things and will be sitting down
with their agents very soon." These talks are
likely to include German midfielder Mathias Jack, who has agreed to wait
and see what is on offer at Easter Road before looking at a number of
options he has including a return to Germany.
Meanwhile Donald Park is not looking
to quit the game just yet. The axed coach who brought through a number
of young stars at Easter Road was a victim of the enforced financial
restructuring taking place at Easter Road, and he knows that in the
current climate it might be difficult to find a new job before the
season gets underway again in August. Park said:
"I think the hardest time will be July, when everyone returns for
pre-season training, if I don’t have anything by then. No matter what
you do it is always worrying when you are out of a job and hopefully I
can get something." And while one of Park's
former charges was being linked with a move to Rangers this week, Garry
O'Connor is ignoring such paper talk and concentrating on helping Hibs
improve on what was a dismal campaign last term.
O'Connor finished the season with a
bang, scoring 8 times from his 9 starts following Bobby Williamson's
arrival at Easter Road. "I'm sure
Hibs will be round about the top area next season and we have to be
looking for a top-four finish at least," the
Scotland international said. And while his strike partner Craig
Brewster has now moved on from Easter Road, O'Connor remains upbeat
adding:
