AS THE SEASON DRAWS TO A CLOSE the players entrance to Easter Road appears to be in constant use with one or more players either arriving or departing Leith practically every other day. Bobby Williamson promised a clear-out at the end of the season and that prophecy took on even greater momentum yesterday with the departure of Freddy Arpinon and the news at Mixu Paatelainen would be travelling north to join St Johnstone.

While chances have been somewhat thing on the ground for Arpinon since arriving at Hibs just over two years ago, injury having played a major part in preventing the midfielder from ever really gaining a regular first team berth, having made only twenty five starts during his twenty six month career with the Easter Road outfit. Freddy's departure has been rumoured for some weeks now and despite the club coming to an agreement where Arpinon's contract would be severed a year earlier than the player may have planned, there was no bitterness on his part - stating: "I am leaving with a lot of very good memories. I have played with some good teams in France, but being at Easter Road has been the best time of my career. The fans here, and the atmosphere, are really special and I have enjoyed my time here. Unfortunately, I had some bad problems with injury and I am sorry that I did not get more chances to play for these fans."

Whether that injury blight will have put told to Arpinon's career for good remains to be seen, but the Frenchman remained optimistic of carrying on elsewhere - he said:" Of course I am sad to go, but in football these things happen. I am not sure yet what I will do, but if I can get a good deal somewhere I may play for one more year. We will see. I would just like to say thank you to the fans at Hibernian, and to say that I will always be a Hibee. Good luck for next season."

Ironically, the club which Arpinon made his Hibs debut against, St Johnstone, were also involved in the Easter Road exodus yesterday, snapping up Mixu Paatelainen in a player-coach role for next season, the big Finn having previously been told he was surplus to requirements at Easter Road for the coming term. While some may have been of the opinion that Mixu was ready to hang up his boots that clearly is not the view of the player who initially arrived at Easter Road in a £75,000 move from Bolton in September 1998.

Never to be forgotten - Mixu celebrates THAT hat-trick! (sns)

Speaking at McDiarmid Park yesterday Paatelainen said:  “I still want to be playing as long as I possibly can; I feel I have at least two years left in me and I’ll be looking to fulfil that. There are still goals to come and if I didn’t have this enthusiasm both on and off the pitch I wouldn’t continue to play. I know there have been some people questioning my age perhaps but I don’t see this as a problem at all."

One issue which opposition fans have picked on throughout Paatelainen's career is his fitness, but few could argue that Mixu has looked out of place in the Hibs starting XI over the past season in what is the twilight of his career. Indeed team-mate and fellow Finn Jarkko Wiss described the striker as the fittest man at Easter Road earlier in the season and that no doubt was due to the disciplined training regime the striker followed when out of work last summer, a chance meeting with Bobby Williamson in Holyrood Park giving Mixu the chance to train with Hibs and eventually win himself a new contract.

With regard to the question of stamina the former Finland international stated: "I know I am very fit and perhaps I’ll surprise some people and prove some wrong. I know at Hibs some team mates wondered how such a big lump could have so much stamina and a high level of fitness but I topped the pre-season fitness chart at the beginning of last season; hopefully I can do that again this year; Arthur’s Seat is good practice for what I’m told lies in store for me on Kinnoull Hill!!! Seriously though, I do feel good, I know the expectations from this Club and I want to play my part in getting the team promoted. St Johnstone Football Club are a premier league outfit; the facilities here are second to none. I also realise how tough the First Division can be but I already have four promotions under my belt – twice with Bolton and also with Hibs and Strasbourg so I hope I can make it five with Saints."

Many fans on the hibs.net message board had hoped that Paatelainen could stay at Easter Road in a coaching capacity, with the vacant Under 18's post being a suggested possibility, and it is clear that Mixu would like to start a career from the sidelines as soon as possible - stating: "The coaching role is also something which made me decide to sign for Saints. There were options; at home in Finland in Ireland and in Scotland but I had a good feeling about Saints and after speaking with Billy Stark my mind was made up and I know I’ve made the right choice. I’m really looking forward to the coming season. It will be a big challenge and there will be a lot of pressure on us because we’re the biggest Club in the league but I’m sure that with a lot of hard work we will get promotion.”

While there may have been departures from Easter Road yesterday there was also an arrival, in the form of Dutch defender Joost Volmer. The former FC Twente stopper is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar, who he joined around a year ago on a two year deal from Fortuna Sittard  but Volmer has found it difficult to make an impact and could be moved on if interest is shown.

Joost Volmer

Volmer recently spent time on trial with West Bromwich Albion, but Baggies boss Gary Megson did not make an approach for the player who also had a spell with Hearts last year before while still at Fortuna Sittard, the Dutch outfit denying permission for Craig Levein to make an approach for the player while they sought to avoid the drop from the Gouden Gids Divsie.