by Stuart Crowther

Date: 4th May 2002

No Summer Signing Sprees IT LOOKS LIKE BEING A LONG SUMMER for players and fans alike, as the traditional signing sprees and general movement from club to club looks highly unlikely to get off the ground against the backdrop of a Scottish game in crisis. It's normal at this time of year for attention of fans to be turning to who will leave and who will arrive at Easter Road, but much as at every club in the country it is more a case who will leave and how many will be left. Another former Hibee used to better things learned yesterday that his days as a professional player may be over, as Pat McGinlay was released by Ayr United, following his former team-mate John Hughes out of the game on the playing side at least. Both may feel they have much to offer the game in a coaching capacity if not by remaining as players, but both are likely to learn that this summer reputations mean little as clubs, at last, cut their cloth to suit and that not only means cutting back on playing staff but also coaching staff. McGinlay and Hughes can at least look back on many years or good wages and some success in the game, the axe will fall heavily on a large number of young players who have the misfortunate to see their contracts end at this moment in time, most in that category might never get back into the game. Hibernian can be expected to announce a list of such players later this month. Players like Mark Dempsie, who at one time appeared to have a more than promising future as he broke into Alex McLeish's first-team squad only to be struck by the ill-luck of a long term injury. It has been four years since Dempsie made that first breakthrough, earning himself a long-term contract as a result, but with that deal due to end it seems there will be no way back for the central defender. Such is the seriousness of the situation Dempsie's younger brother Allan, who made his first start for the club on Saturday against Dundee, will not be feeling too safe himself at the moment, as Dempsie the younger also finds himself saddled with a contract ending and therefore sweating over the possibility of a new deal being placed before him. "Starting against Dundee was a chance to go out and prove that I could handle the situation but given my contract situation it was probably the biggest game of my life," Dempsie said of his debut, a game in which he looked comfortable enough on the right of Hibs defence. Dempsie revealed his own fears over the future when he added: "Guys who have been playing for a few years will probably have some money put aside, and that's something youngsters won't have been able to do. If a club finds itself in the happy position of being able to sign a new player or two over the summer, who are they going to go for, a seasoned professional who has proved himself or a promising youngster?" The hope among many Hibs fans, and of course Dempsie, is that it would be the latter. The massive cut-back in wage bills at all clubs will not be for one-season only, every club in the SPL is now looking to the Aberdeen model, realising that the Dons drastic measures of relying on youth with a few seasoned professionals has paid off handsomely, but even at Pittodrie further cuts are being made this summer. Fans of course will continue to speculate over possible big-name signings, it seems this summer that will be wishful thinking as boss Bobby Williamson has made it clear enough he knows the score, and expects to be unable to add to his squad. Indeed the Hibs boss will probably see a drastic reduction in the size of his squad and that might mean some pruning also in the coaching department. Meanwhile the tributes continue to pour in following the death of Hibs youngster Liam O'Sullivan. Hibs.net continues to receive messages from supporters of all clubs in Scotland and south of the border. All messages left on the Hibs.net message board will be passed to Liam's family.