End of season blues
Some contracts offered, some not as Max looks at the final week of the season....

I'm bored. Not even the managerial saga can really interest me in this season anymore. It's just gone on too long, a bit like the season in general. This one has had more front runners than the Grand National. In a week that has see Hibs linked with Hay, Gorman and Black to name a few the latest Strachan stories seem to have caught the imagination of the Hibs fans with some on the Hibs.net messageboard predicting such an appointment could attract up to 10,000 fans buying a season ticket for Easter Road. I just want it resolved, if only because I am sick of the sight of Rod Petrie announcing in whatever media that he has nothing to announce and will not comment on speculation.

One thing that does confuse me though is this, in a bland interview for the official Hibs site, where Petrie dished out the party line, he made the following remark on contract discussions, "This season's not a lot different from previous seasons in that there are a number of players in contract and a number of players coming out of contract and there were some discussions that were started before the managerial vacancy arose and a number of those discussion have continued. I've had contact with a number of player's representatives and some of them quite naturally want to wait and see who the next manager is, and to have that opportunity to have that discussion on a football basis before we get on to a financial basis. When the next manager comes in he will make the football decisions because a football manager makes football decisions".

I am delighted that Grant Brebner has signed a new contract to take him beyond his 30th birthday, but given Petrie's remark above, does that mean he knows who the new manager is and is acting on his instructions? If not, what happens if Brebs doesn't fit into the new manager's plans? Or for that matter Matthias Kouo-Doumbe who many sources report as having been offered a substantial deal over a three year basis. That's a particularly critical question in respect of the current financial position at Hibs on the grounds the new manager might decide Doumbe is over-rated and spend the money on two players in the name of squad cover. If Petrie doesn't know who the new manager is, does this not reinforce the claim some of Bobby Williamson's buddies at BBC Weegie were making that the Chairman had too much power over the football side of the club? Idle speculation of a different kind I guess.

Andersson - still no contract on the table  (sns)

Talking of the Bobster, Daniel Andersson was probably his best signing, and the Swede will earn the distinction of being the only Hibs player to have started all 44 matches this season if he plays against Livi on Saturday. Indeed, I think Andersson could walk into any team other than Rangers in the SPL right now, as it's hard to think of anyone other than their current number 1, Stefan Klos who comes close to him at present. However, Saturday may well be his last game for Hibs, the 31-year-old former AIK Stockholm star warning he can’t afford to wait too long for them to make a move, as financial reality bites.

Swedish lawyer Martin Klette, has already stated there’s been interest in his client from England and France. Andersson remarked: "My agent would not be doing his job if he was not looking after my interests, that’s the case with every football player all around the world. I cannot lie and say my success has not drawn attention to myself but I will wait and see what happens. I owe everybody honesty and I will keep on doing that".

With a wife and young child to support I am sure most Hibs fans will empathise. Yannick Zambernardi is another player in a similar situation and Roland Edge amongst others is also out of contract. There will be a lot of players in a similar situation come Monday morning. Andersson continued, "But there is only one game left and I have not been offered a contract. I’ve played in every league and cup match this season which, I feel, is something of an achievement.  It proves I have looked after myself. I try to be as professional as I can. I trained hard and that’s what brings success and I’ve also stayed away from injuries.  The only thing I have heard from the club is that they want to wait for the new manager to come in to see if he likes me but I think the club knows whether they want me or not despite whoever will be the new manager."

Blunt words indeed. It's hard to see how the club could not want Andersson, especially after his display on Saturday when he went a long way to winning us three points. Who could forget his performance in the CIS Cup semi against Rangers, even before the penalty shoot out?  Asked if he would like to stay with Hibs, Andersson said: "I’ve enjoyed myself and I’d stay if an acceptable offer is made. My family gets homesick from time to time which happens to every family living away from their own country. If an offer comes and we think it is worth it we will stay, if not - well, that’s football."  I hope that's not football, because if it is, someone will get themselves a damn good keeper on the cheap.

Hibs fans will be receiving brochures through the post this morning detailing the Season Ticket and membership packages available for next season. With some radical changes to the pricing structure for Season Tickets, the board have taken a bold step to try and make it easier for fans to decide where they want, or can afford, to sit.  Full details of the new packages can be found at http://www.hibs.co.uk/seasontkt.htm.