Yogi's just been having a laugh

JOHN HUGHES reckons he's only been able to put a smile on Hibs fans' faces this season because he managed to get poker-faced Rod Petrie laughing during his job interview.

Hibs have been reborn under their former captain - a swashbuckling style of play turning back the clock to the days where few sides in Scotland could match them for entertainment value.

While John Collins and Mixu Paatelainen failed to convince Petrie to loosen the purse strings, Hughes has managed to work his charm.

Players of the calibre of Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller seemed too rich for Hibs' pockets previously yet the current situation seems to be that whatever Yogi wants, he gets.

Hughes feels the relationship he now enjoys with a man who he was always rumoured not to see eye to eye with stems from the frankness and humour he displayed when trying to sell his vision of the club.

He said: "I tell you one thing Rod is a funny, funny man. Trust me. His humour is great. I wouldn't play poker with him, right enough.

"But he guides me, as do the whole board. Scott Lindsay the chief executive is really good for me as well.

"I think the interview process swung it my way because there were a few in for it. I spoke to them informally then came in to the training ground and spoke to the board.

"I saw one or two friendly faces from my time here, which relaxed me and I was able to crack a few jokes but after that there was no messing about. I told them what I thought they needed, I knew what was available.

"I knew from playing Mixu's teams they had the nucleus of a right good team and it was all about getting them to play to the standard we knew they were capable of. I knew all about their Under-19 side that had won the double but I was also bold enough to circle the ones they shouldn't count on to be first team players.

"I also feel that my success with the young guys at Falkirk stood me in good stead as well.

"Maybe I had a bit of inside knowledge at the club but I stood there and told them what needed done at their club. I gave them a powerpoint presentation - the works.

"A bit bold as brass, but if they're true to themselves and they know football, they'll know." Hughes rates the relationship between a manager and his chairman as equally important to that between a boss and his players.

Despite the rumour mill having it that he and Petrie were not even on speaking terms before he returned to the club, he insists their relationship is healthy.

He added: "It's all about communication. Me and the chairman, even outwith business, he'll come down here and we'll sit and have a coffee.

"Sometimes he ends up telling me to shut up because I'm asking him so many questions about what's gone on with other deals.

"You're building a rapport and a relationship. Even on the football side, we have that kind of relationship.

"Has he said no to me yet? Once or twice, aye. He'll put his view across telling me why and we've never fallen out. Long may it continue."

Hibs now have an embarrassment of riches up front. Stokes, Derek Riordan, Colin Nish, Benji and now Alan Gow are competing for places.

The manager doesn't think it's out of the question that he may be able to accommodate them all at once at some stage. He said: "The Famous Five have been mentioned - it would be great if we could get them all in the one team at the one time.

"I'd have to go back in history to see how that kind of formation played - all your inside forwards and the like.

"But I'd love to think between now and the end of the season we could see that because it's great to have that at your disposal."

This article has 0 comments