KerPlunk
07-02-2010, 01:10 PM
...can't be true, shoorely ? :confused:
From today's Hunday Mail :- (err....not my normal rag, honest)
We haven't spent any money at Hibs but I've a great rapport with chief Rod Petrie, says John Hughes
Feb 7 2010 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail
HE'S the most notorious money man in Scottish football, the guy who can drag blood from a stone then never use it for a transfusion.
Now Hibs boss John Hughes has lifted the lid on the powers of persuasion that have finally made chairman Rod Petrie prise the lid from the Easter Road biscuit tin.
The man with the iron moustache has become a legendary dealbroker after raking in more than £15 million from a golden generation of Hibees kids.
But previous bosses John Collins and Mixu Paatelainen discovered it was a one-way street when it came to bursting the budget.
Hughes, though, seems to be the first gaffer with the ability to make Petrie to think big and spend big.
Signings like Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller blew a huge hole in their wage ceiling while Alan Gow and Mark Brown also didn't come cheap.
But Yogi insisted: "Communication. It's all about communication.
"Even outwith business the chairman will come down here for a coffee and we'll talk for hours.
"Sometimes he ends up telling me to shut up because I'm asking so many questions about what has gone on with other deals.
"But we're building a rapport. I tell you one thing - he is a funny man. Trust me. His humour is great.
"I wouldn't play poker with him right enough. But he's good for me. The chairman is always testing you. He'll send you an email at 11.30pm - he's always working.
"That's why as a manager you need to manage up the way as well as down the way. The board have seen what we've done and I'd like to think if they were writing a report card it would say: Well done - could do better. Maybe! Which is better than I ever got at school! Has the chairman said no to me yet? Once or twice but he will put his view across telling me why and we've never fallen out.
"But as a manager you need to know the business.You must understand what's going to happen down the line.
"I've been in the game seven years and only spent 120 grand - all of it at Falkirk. Fifty went on Alan Gow after a tribunal, 40 on John Stewart and another 20 or so on Dean Holden.
"I haven't spent anything at Hibs. It has all been wheeling and dealing. :thumbsup: :faf:
"That's why we plan for miles in front of ourselves. We have our plans in place for the summer already."
Those plans are still dependent on what happens between now and then.
With a front-loaded squad that could bag Hibs the goals they need to split the Old Firm, Yogi knows the potential for something special is there.
His front line of Stokes, Derek Riordan and Colin Nish has been producing with Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun assisting.
Throw Gow into the mix and Hughes almost has too many options ahead of the midweek game with Aberdeen.
But he laughed: "The famous five got mentioned - it would be great if we could get them all in the one team.
"I'd have to go back in history to see how that formation was played - all your inside forwards and the like.
"I'd love to think between now and the end of the season we could see that. It's great to have it at your disposal."
Wheeling and dealing, eh ? Tell us more, Yogi. :devil:
From today's Hunday Mail :- (err....not my normal rag, honest)
We haven't spent any money at Hibs but I've a great rapport with chief Rod Petrie, says John Hughes
Feb 7 2010 Gordon Waddell, Sunday Mail
HE'S the most notorious money man in Scottish football, the guy who can drag blood from a stone then never use it for a transfusion.
Now Hibs boss John Hughes has lifted the lid on the powers of persuasion that have finally made chairman Rod Petrie prise the lid from the Easter Road biscuit tin.
The man with the iron moustache has become a legendary dealbroker after raking in more than £15 million from a golden generation of Hibees kids.
But previous bosses John Collins and Mixu Paatelainen discovered it was a one-way street when it came to bursting the budget.
Hughes, though, seems to be the first gaffer with the ability to make Petrie to think big and spend big.
Signings like Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller blew a huge hole in their wage ceiling while Alan Gow and Mark Brown also didn't come cheap.
But Yogi insisted: "Communication. It's all about communication.
"Even outwith business the chairman will come down here for a coffee and we'll talk for hours.
"Sometimes he ends up telling me to shut up because I'm asking so many questions about what has gone on with other deals.
"But we're building a rapport. I tell you one thing - he is a funny man. Trust me. His humour is great.
"I wouldn't play poker with him right enough. But he's good for me. The chairman is always testing you. He'll send you an email at 11.30pm - he's always working.
"That's why as a manager you need to manage up the way as well as down the way. The board have seen what we've done and I'd like to think if they were writing a report card it would say: Well done - could do better. Maybe! Which is better than I ever got at school! Has the chairman said no to me yet? Once or twice but he will put his view across telling me why and we've never fallen out.
"But as a manager you need to know the business.You must understand what's going to happen down the line.
"I've been in the game seven years and only spent 120 grand - all of it at Falkirk. Fifty went on Alan Gow after a tribunal, 40 on John Stewart and another 20 or so on Dean Holden.
"I haven't spent anything at Hibs. It has all been wheeling and dealing. :thumbsup: :faf:
"That's why we plan for miles in front of ourselves. We have our plans in place for the summer already."
Those plans are still dependent on what happens between now and then.
With a front-loaded squad that could bag Hibs the goals they need to split the Old Firm, Yogi knows the potential for something special is there.
His front line of Stokes, Derek Riordan and Colin Nish has been producing with Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun assisting.
Throw Gow into the mix and Hughes almost has too many options ahead of the midweek game with Aberdeen.
But he laughed: "The famous five got mentioned - it would be great if we could get them all in the one team.
"I'd have to go back in history to see how that formation was played - all your inside forwards and the like.
"I'd love to think between now and the end of the season we could see that. It's great to have it at your disposal."
Wheeling and dealing, eh ? Tell us more, Yogi. :devil: