Hibs trio released from contracts

01 September 2009 18:09
Hibs boss John Hughes had been keen to offload up to four players before the transfer window closed and has deemed Van Zanten, Johansson and Deane surplus to requirements. Full-back Van Zanten, 27, signed from St Mirren last summer and was a regular under former manager Mixu Paatelainen. But the Irishman made only one appearance under Hughes this season. Finland striker Johansson, 34, joined Hibs in January but failed to hold down a regular first-team place. He has since been hampered by injury and did not feature at all since Hughes' appointment. Deane was a member of Hibs' all-conquering under-19 team last season but has failed to make the step up. Meanwhile, Hughes insists Hibs did everything they could to bring Scott Arfield to Easter Road before the transfer window shut. Falkirk last night confirmed they had rejected two offers from the Edinburgh club for Arfield, saying they "fell considerably below the club's valuation" of the 20-year-old, who is currently on Scotland Under-21 duty. Hughes had been hoping to make midfielder Arfield his third signing from the club he quit last summer. "It's my job to identify players I believe can strengthen our squad and Scott Arfield is a player I'd like to bring to Hibs, simple as that," he said in the Edinburgh Evening News. "He's a player I enjoyed working with at Falkirk and is an exciting young talent, though he still has a bit to go. "The board have given it their best shot at trying to get him and I can't ask for any more than that."

Source: Team_Talk