by Stuart Crowther

Date: 27th June 2002

New campaign looms with no signing for Jack Mathias hopes set to be dashed? WHILE CRAIG BREWSTER IS ENJOYING pre-season in New Zealand with his new Dunfermline team-mates, Mathias Jack is being left at his home in Germany to ponder over his own future. Jack's faith in Hibernian to come up with a deal that will see his dream of remaining at Easter Road for at least another year seems to have floundered.  When told that he was wanted but no deal could be offered just yet, Brewster snapped up a two-year offer from the Pars, but in the same position Jack chose to keep faith with the club and hold off until the financial situation became clear at Hibs - that is a decision that seems to have back-fired on the German, as Bobby Williamson this week gave the clearest sign yet that there may be no changes to his squad when they resume training next week.  Other perhaps that a few missing faces! Williamson is well aware of the frustrations felt by Hibs fans who are hungry for news from the club, but are hearing only of imminent departures and troubled finances.  While the Hibs boss insists his squad as it stands is good enough, that confidence is not yet shared by supporters of the club who went through the agonies of a campaign last time around that promised much but delivered only pain - and three different managers!  The outlook for Hibs looks as bleak as an Edinburgh summer right at this minute, but then some will argue that this perhaps is no bad thing - the only way is upwards after all, and like the weather things can and likely will change rapidly.  For many fans Mathias Jack has become a symbol of the season ahead, a sign at just how desperate things are at the club. McManus - can't wait to prove he has what it takes One player who is bubbling over with enthusiasm as usual is dressing room joker Tam McManus.  The striker missed most of the latter half of the season after being injured against Dundee at Dens Park, and as yet McManus has not played for Bobby Williamson, something he can't wait to put right when the whistle finally blows on a new SPL campaign.  "Breaking my leg against Dundee was a nightmare. But that is in the past and I'm just desperate to get playing again.  I managed the last three or four weeks at the end of the season and a couple of practice games, and now I'm getting ready for the real thing."  McManus will be fighting for the attentions of his boss along with Paco Luna and, should recent speculation be wrong, Garry O'Connor.  Williamson also has Derek Riordan champing at the bit for another shot at the first team, but it remains in the firing line that most concern exists for Hibs fans. The departure of Brewster has left a large hole in the experienced end of Hibs strike-force, and for most the prospect of starting the season 'as we are', far less without the services of O'Connor, is a situation that should not be allowed to happen.  McManus may yet have more competition in that department with former Killie striker Tommy Johnson yet to sign for a club, but again there is only speculation for Hibs fans to go on.  None of this will curb the enthusiastic McManus however, as he points out that in himself and Ulrik Laursen the Hibs boss has already said he has two players returning from injury that will be as good as two new signings.  The striker, who has been at Easter Road for five years since being brought to the club by Jim Duffy, said: "There have been a lot of changes in those five years, especially when Alex was in charge. "I felt sorry for Franck when he left the club. When he came in for Alex he inherited a lot of problems and unfortunately the players did not get him the run of results.  But on the plus side, the lads who played in Europe got a taste of what it's all about and we want more of it."  The betting men in the Hibs support are holding off on the sun-tan lotion.