WHEN BOBBY WILLIAMSON TOLD DARREN THOMSON that he was surplus to requirements earlier this week, the last thing that the 18-year old would have expected would have been for the boss to call him back in and tell him that he'll be playing for the first team this afternoon.  But that's exactly what the Williamson has done and in doing so, has handed Thomson the opportunity to save his Easter Road career.

Just a few short weeks ago, the Hibs boss was telling fans that if a young player was good enough, then he would make the first team squad.  Thomson has perhaps been a bit fortunate with seven players out injured or suspended for the game at the City Stadium however Williamson is sure that the left sided defender can do a job, whether that be at Hibs or with another club next season. Speaking yesterday afternoon, he said "Darren has progressed well this year and I am sure he will do a fine job for anybody, although, if he does a job for us tomorrow, he might do a fine job for us."

"I spoke to Darren this week, he has been very unfortunate, we are going to be working with a tight squad next season and we have to make sure we have a blend of experience and youth."  Thomson isn't the only victim of the cull that's going on at Easter Road at the moment with fellow youth players Paul Hilland, Allan Dempsie and Ryan Harding amongst those having to look for new clubs over the coming weeks.  Unlike the others though, Thomson could find himself back on the Hibs payroll if he shows enough on his first team debut to warrant another shot at progression through the Capital club's ranks.  "He has not had much of an opportunity to perform at first team level, through no fault of his own, other players have done better. We'll see, he has a week. It is not just a case of showing boys the door, it is a case of them enjoying it while they are here and helping them progress whether it is at Easter Road or wherever and try and help them."  Williamson continued, "I don't know whether he can be the answer for that position, if I am not sure then I might have to get someone with a bit of experience in."

Another youngster that has been drafted into the squad for today is central defender Kevin O'Neill.  The 17 year old has impressed in under-18 games this season and will get his chance thanks to the injuries to Doumbe, Zambernardi and Orman whilst Ian Murray, who could have filled in at the back, is suspended.  However, whether O'Neill makes it onto the park or not depends on how things develop during the 90 minutes.  "There is a very good chance Darren will play. The both will be involved. Darren will feature but if Kevin is called upon, then no hesitation to bring him in."

Alen Orman scores the last time the side met but out injured for this afternoon (sns)

One player who will definitely start the game, and could possibly take possession of the captain's armband in the process, is Grant Brebner.  Much has been written and said about the Hibs-daft midfielder's decision to reject the contract offered to him.  Whilst not actively looking to push Grant out of the door, Williamson is certainly thinking about the wider picture following on from his decision.  "Grant has a year left on his contract, if someone comes in with an offer, he can go, same with Scott Severin at Hearts. It is never closed. At the moment in time, the club has spoken to him ,as it does with other talented youngsters, a year before their contract expires and if they show us the indication it can't be settled, then we have to try and move them on before they go out of contract and can go for nothing."  However, the Hibs boss believes that the matter is not closed on that front yet. "I am sure there possibly could be more talks, but Mr. Petrie deals with that. It is not closed yet, I don't think. That is how I don't like getting into it before it is concluded because it drags on and on and on."

While Brebner was offered a two year extension to his current deal, the only other players to have been offered terms so far, Gary Smith and Matt Doumbe, were only given offers for a 12 month period.  While this may appear a negative approach to some fans, Williamson is sure that this will in fact be a positive move and one that can actually help Hibs in the longer term!  "This is a transitional period for Hibernian and Scottish football. When players say they want security, no one is secure in any walk of life. They have to give of their best on a weekly basis.  If you give them security, do they take their feet off the gas? Why do they want that security, so they can rest and sit back?"  Looking back over the past year, it could be argued that some players have only done what they need to do to stay in the first team, an attitude that the Hibs boss is obviously trying to get rid of amongst players at all levels of experience.  "We have to have everyone fighting for positions and contract , that is the way it has got to be. Younger players, we can improve their contracts because they have come in on a lower wage. If they show they are capable of being first team players, we can raise it. Established players are different because they are on good money anyway and the financial situation every club is in, it is hard to improve their offers."

Whilst much has been made of the ever burgeoning list of 'exits', it's only been in the last two weeks that fans have actually been seeing confirmation of players arriving at Easter Road on trial with only one, Stephen Dobbie, actually signing up so far.  However, as with last season, Williamson will not rush into any signings when there are other players out there that could be available.  "There is a list of players we are looking at but we have to give these guys the opportunity first and I will make up my mind on a couple of them next week. That is on-going. There is no point in me saying we are trying to do this or that and then someone else comes in and takes it away from you. We have seen the headlines where such a club has had egg on their face because they have been rebuked by a player who has said he is going to a better club. So, we will conclude our business and then talk about it."  And Williamson is confident that he will get the players he wants from that list.

Time almost up on this season as Williamson plans for next and beyond (sns)

"I am very hopeful. There is a list of players there and it is quite a big list. What I do is, if I am looking for a certain position, I look at 3 or 4, I tell the players I am looking at other players and it is up to them and their agents to sit round the table with Rod and agree a deal.  If they don't, he looks at the next one and we get a player to fill the position."  The issue of wages, and the level of them pre and post bountiful TV deals is one that the Hibs boss continues to bring up in interviews as he firmly believes that the current levels cannot be sustained by the majority.  "This will be a difficult year because no one knows how it will work and how much players will be prepared to take off their wages to play football. Maybe next year will be a better indication but we have to be prepared for this one."

One thing that Williamson does not want to see is the selling of players for the sake of selling. With a squad of around 50 players when he arrived, there was always going to be a reduction in the size of the squad although perhaps some fans were surprised at the level of the cuts.  Although he has 'cut his cloth' to use his own oft-used expression, it is possible that further departures could happen.  "We are going to be working with a squad of 24. If someone shows an interest in one of your players and it is beneficial for them to move on, you wish them all the best. Obviously, we want to keep players at the club as well. I would be more disappointed if we had to sell an Ian Murray, or a Garry O'Connor or one of these players. The fans want to see these guys staying and I am no different."  That doesn't mean to say that the Board, the banks or Sir Tom Farmer have been putting the pressure on him to cut things down.

"I have never been under pressure to sell anybody. That would be the Board's decision anyway, if they said I had to sell these guys, which has never happened, then it would be difficult but that has never happened. I have never been given any indication I had to go out and sell anyone to make ends meet. I hope we don't have to do that. Although, if one of these guys does exceptionally well and someone makes a fantastic offer and we feel someone would progress from there, it would be wrong of us to hold them back but first and foremost we think about Hibernian and no one else."  Whether that is yet to come remains to be seen although with the level of cuts being made, it would be difficult to see this happening in the short term.