Source: Team_Talk
Hughes hails 'Statler and Waldorf'
But Hughes insisted he would still stop at nothing to ensure the veteran pair's first Edinburgh derby back at Hearts ends in defeat.[LNB]Hughes, Jefferies and Brown have been friends and colleagues for more than 20 years.[LNB]Their relationship dates back to 1988 when Jefferies was appointed manager of crisis club Berwick Rangers.[LNB]And despite an expletive-laden first encounter in which Hughes expressed his fury at former boss Jimmy Thomson's sacking, the pair soon struck up a chemistry that turned the club around.[LNB]They and assistant manager Brown then went on to enjoy even greater success at Falkirk before finally going their separate ways.[LNB]And although Saturday's game is the latest of many meetings since Hughes became a manager, it is the first in which both are in charge of the clubs they have supported all their lives.[LNB]An excited Hughes said: "I'm locking horns with Jim and Billy again, Statler and Waldorf![LNB]"I'll always be grateful to those two guys and what they did for me.[LNB]"Most of the things that have happened for me in my football career, I've got Jimmy and Billy to thank.[LNB]"But come Saturday, trust me, there'll be no-one at Tynecastle more than me wanting their scalp... well, Jim's scalp, Billy's has gone![LNB]"It'll be handshakes and smiles before the game but then I'll have tunnel vision."[LNB]There has been plenty of mutual appreciation from the men in charge ahead of Saturday's derby, with Jefferies today using an extraordinary incident while the pair were at Falkirk to sum up Hughes' wholehearted character.[LNB]The Hearts boss described how Hughes had thrown himself in front of a shot in a crucial match 16 years ago.[LNB]Hailing the impact Jefferies and Brown had on his career, Hughes said: "It was all about giving 100%, appreciating what you've got, appreciating being a footballer.[LNB]"As soon as you did that and they knew that you were trying, you had two guys who would back you 100%, through good, bad and indifferent."[LNB]He added of Jefferies: "There's a chemistry that builds and as soon as I started working with him, that chemistry was there.[LNB]"He knew that I'd give him everything."[LNB]Jefferies revealed today he had even tried to sign Hughes during his first spell in charge almost 15 years ago.[LNB]But the latter would not be drawn on whether he would have taken up the offer had he not joined Celtic instead.[LNB]The Hibs boss did, however, wish Hearts luck in their quest for a top-six place in the SPL, saying: "Why? Because we get another Edinburgh derby."[LNB]With Hibs having won only one of their last seven games in all competitions, Hughes admits Saturday's SPL match and Tuesday night's Active Nation Scottish Cup quarter-final replay are the club's most important games of the season.[LNB]The 45-year-old will be in the dugout for both but is expected to spend the following six matches sat in the stand once the club receives confirmation he has lost his appeal against a lengthy touchline ban.[LNB]"All I'll say on that is I'm really disappointed that Hibs are the club that are getting punished for something that I've done two or three years ago," said Hughes, who is unhappy his previous offences while Falkirk manager were taken into account.[LNB]"It shouldn't be like that."[LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.
