Will Allan Money Be Used To Strengthen?

Will Hibs target further signings prior to the transfer window closing now there’s a little extra cash in the budget from Scott Allan’s sale?

It’s difficult to know what the exact figure Alan Stubbs has left to play with despite the additional revenue coming into the club’s coffers but we hold out hope an extra body or two can arrive to bolster a squad laden with midfielders but lacking genuine quality up front and desperately short of numbers at the back.

You’d imagine with the loss of Hearts from the division and the £70-100k per match their travelling support guaranteed the club from ticket sales would now be balanced out with the sale of Allan so this season’s budget should be relative to 2014-15 with the parachute payments and HSL donations taken into account.

The offset wages of Craig, Robertson, Dja Djedje and Allan may well have been consumed by the arrivals of Fraser Fyvie, Dan Carmichael, Marvin Bartley, John McGinn and James Keatings however with all five having signed prior to Allan’s departure for Celtic then theoretically his salary should be available, at minimum, for the manager to spend.

In the likely scenario Alex Harris and Sam Stanton are farmed out on loan more money could be thrown into the pot to strengthen particular areas where we’re known to be at our weakest.

A lack of competition for places along the backline sees the usual suspects start week after week and whilst it’s probably unfair to suggest they’re resting on their laurels, mentally it’s fairly comprehensible for a player to believe even a poor performance won’t see you dropped the following week therefore 100% effort is not always required.

It may seem a little harsh following a clean sheet at the weekend but defensively we are at our weakest with the opposition tending to score ‘easy’ goals which in turn, questions the ability of those involved to remain switched on when the side are dominating on the front foot for the majority of a game.

St Mirren have been linked with a move for Andy Webster and a player of his ilk could be the difference between winning a vital 3 points or dropping 2 to a lack of concentration so if Hibs are to challenge strongly this season having an old head to organise the back 3,4 or 5 dependant on formation, would certainly be a useful asset.

Stubbs has proven to be no mean judge of a player in the transfer market and is fully trusted to make the correct calls on who to bring in or let leave but you get the feeling Hibs are potentially only one or two players away from having a side more than capable of winning the title despite Rangers believing it’ll be a stroll in the park.

Big Dom Malonga has, unfortunately, looked a shadow of the player who first arrived at the club and given Jason Cummings role as super sub on Saturday it looks like Stubbs doesn’t yet have the belief in the youngster to lead the line so it would be no great surprise to see another striker arrive with Farid El Alagui’s injury problems showing no sign of abating.

So, with around two weeks to go until the summer transfer window ‘slams’ shut, it’ll certainly be interesting to see what Stubbsy can entice to Edinburgh. Defender, midfielder, winger, attacker? Promising youth or experienced campaigner? Let’s see where we are come the first of September.