Source: FOOTYMAD
Hibs boss John Hughes: Contract talks can wait!
No distractions for Europa League run-in Hibs boss John Hughes has today revealed that he has put contract talks with some of his out-of-contract players until the season is over. A number of fringe players at Easter Road will be free agents come the summer, but Hughes wants his side focused on the push for Europa League football, and not elsewhere. The most prominent of the out-of-contract players is Moroccan international striker Abdessalam Benjelloun, who has been in and out of the team this season, after spending last year on loan in Belgium. Hughes is expected to offer “Benji” a new deal, but others won’t be so fortunate. Yves Ma-Kalambay, Steven Thicot and Patrick Cregg are amongst those expected to leave in the summer. The Hibs boss said: "A number of players are out of contract, but I want them to be fully focused," "We have not given up hope of catching Dundee United and, as we have seen, football can be a funny game. "But we've never sat down and spoken with the chairman. There are a lot of decisions to be made - comings and goings. "I still feel there's too much to play for. "I know one or two of them are saying, 'Well, that's a bit unfair - we want to know our futures'. "But, at this moment in time, we're paying their wages, we're still trying to win football matches, so let's just keep that focus. "What you have to do is get the best out of what you've got first and foremost. "I'd like to think, though, in the close season we could bring one or two players to the club to help these guys along." Tell us what you think of this news on the Hibernian-Mad message board, at the link below. http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/mboard/loadboard.asp
