Hibernian

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Can Hibs bounce back next season with a third-place finish?

The Easter Road club ended the 2025/26 season fifth, four points behind Motherwell in fourth, and secured a place in Conference League qualifying thanks to Celtic's Scottish Cup win.

Across the city, rivals Hearts topped the table for much of the campaign before narrowly missing out on glory after a final-day defeat to champions Celtic.

Hibs fan Harry McArthur, of the Down The Slope podcast, admits a Hearts title win was a "scary" prospect, but expects a very different top flight next term and is backing David Gray's side to have a strong campaign.

"Overall I think the season was pretty good," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But when Hearts are top of the league and almost winning it at Celtic Park and just bottling it towards the end, although we had a good feeling on the final day of the season, it was scary.

"All in all, it was a really weird season and I think it sets up for next year to be more exciting.

"Hearts obviously did really well but I think with the context of them having European games, Celtic and Rangers likely strengthening and the fact Hearts did so well will give belief to teams like Hibs, Aberdeen, even Motherwell who had a really good season.

"I think it'll be a really exciting 2026-27 and there's no reason that Hibs can't at least aim to push up to third because I think that it'll be a very different looking league."

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Hibernian forward Ante Suto is among eight players to be released from Australia's World Cup training camp in Florida.

The Croatia-born 25-year-old had never set foot in Australia before he was called up for March friendlies against Cameroon and Curacao and was not selected for either game.

Suto joined Hibs in January from Slaven Belupo and scored four goals in 14 appearances, although he has made just two starts.

Easter Road team-mate Martin Boyle is among the 21 players kept on, along with Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin.

Striker Tete Yengi on loan at Machida Zelvia from Livingston and former Hearts centre-half Kye Rowles are in the wave of eight new arrivals to the camp, with a squad of 26 to be announced by 1 June.

Australia will play US friendlies against Mexico and Switzerland and begin the World Cup against Turkey in Vancouver on 13 June.

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Elie Youan is leaving Hibernian this summer after a four-year stint, the club have confirmed.

Loan players Dan Barlaser, Kai Andrews, Dane Scarlett and Munashe Garananga have returned to their parent clubs.

French forward Youan, 27, initially spent a season on loan at Easter Road before joining on a three-year deal in 2023 for a fee in the high "six figures", according to then manager Lee Johnson.

Youan departs having played 188 games for Hibs, scoring 25 goals and adding 21 assists.

He struggled for game-time this season, making just six starts in 23 outings.

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Hibernian will enter the second qualifying round of the Conference League in July as a consequence of Celtic winning the Scottish Cup.

David Gray's side finished fifth in the Premiership but had to wait to have their European place confirmed. Had Dunfermline won at Hampden, they would have missed out.

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Hibernian have confirmed centre-back Rocky Bushiri will miss the World Cup through injury.

The 26-year-old was selected in the 26-man squad for the Democratic Republic of Congo after helping them to a first World Cup finals for 52 years.

However Bushiri was forced off early into Hibs' defeat by Motherwell in their final game of the season and will not make next month's tournament.

"Everyone is devastated for Rocky, and the timing of this injury couldn't be worse for him so close to the World Cup," said Hibs head coach David Gray.

"Rocky has worked so hard for us this season, and he earned himself the opportunity to compete at the World Cup for his performances at both club and international level.

"We will all rally around Rocky and make sure he gets our full support from everyone at the club."

Elie Youan, the 27-year-old forward who is out of contract with Hibernian, has revealed he has wanted to leave for two years but moves to Stoke City and Legia Warsaw fell through. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

On the evidence of the games between Hibs and Motherwell this season, it would have been a huge injustice if we'd finished above the Steelmen.

At times in the first half of Saturday's shootout for a European place it looked like they were playing a different sport to us. Hibs were rank rotten, as bad as we've been all season.

We weren't helped by injuries to Rocky Bushiri and Grant Hanley, but to pin the performance on bad luck would be wrong.

Motherwell showed more heart, desire, ability and tactical awareness than Hibs from the first whistle to the last.

It took us until the 28th minute to register a shot at goal - this in a game David Gray described as a "cup final".

We finished the game with one shot on target, which sums up how one-sided the game was despite Motherwell having a man sent off.

After back-to-back wins against Falkirk and Rangers, we had hoped for more from Hibs, particularly after the surprise announcement Martin Boyle's contract extension.

That gave everyone a lift just before kick-off and it's great to see Boyle stick around for another year.

With little to capture the interest on the pitch, the afternoon's entertainment came from the reaction to Celtic's title-winning goals in Glasgow, which were a welcome bonus to an otherwise horrible afternoon.

We simply can't start next season with the style of play we've seen in the last couple of months at Hibs - you have to go back to a 0-0 draw with Livingston in March to find a game where we had more than 10 shots at goal.

In a few of the games since we've mustered fewer than five. That needs addressed, otherwise the grumbles at full-time on Saturday will become intolerable to the Gordon family.

You can find Matty Fairnie at Longbangers podcast, external

Hibernian "definitely need to add to the top end of the pitch" says head coach David Gray, despite the surprise contract U-turn from Martin Boyle. (Edinburgh Evening News - evening news), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

On the losing side, but made five saves.

Tom Sparrow - Motherwell

A midfielder by trade, Sparrow has never let Motherwell down at right back.

Stephen Welsh - Motherwell

On loan from Celtic, Welsh has been a real leader at Fir Park. Played with heart, soul and real quality. Had an effort ruled out for a foul.

Ryan Astley - Dundee

Scored the winning goal to send the Dundee faithful home happy.

Tuur Rommens - Rangers

Won all his duels against Falkirk and looks a good signing by Danny Rohl.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

Surely has to be in the World Cup squad. Made the previous squad, and since then his form has been electric.

Callum McGregor - Celtic

Much has been made - rightly so - of the impact made by the return of Martin O'Neill in steering Celtic to another title. But in his own way, the captain at the centre of this team has quietly done the steering on the pitch. Since the Dundee United game there has been much more of a steely resolve and intensity when required from Celtic, and McGregor has embodied that mission in the post-split games. His teammates voiced their praise for his leadership on and off the pitch throughout what's been a tumultuous campaign that saw Brendan Rodgers and then Wilfried Nancy depart. Throughout it all McGregor has been the constant. The emotion poured out of him at the end said it all.

Lukas Fadinger - Motherwell

A steely presence all season for Motherwell. His deflected goal was the difference against Hibs.

Nicky Clescenco - Kilmarnock

Took his goal well. Looked lively and creative in the rout of Livingston.

Joe Hugill - Kilmarnock

Two goals against Livingston upped his tally to eight in his past 12 games for Kilmarnock. Has thrived under Neil McCann.

Youssef Chermiti - Rangers

Looked like an absolute world-beater against Falkirk. His goals were superb. Has had his critics, but 15 Premiership goals is a respectable tally. His challenge next season will be to up that tally, and be more consistent.

A discussion with his young daughter prompted winger Martin Boyle's change of heart that led to a new one-year deal at Hibernian. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch all the highlights as Motherwell secured fourth spot and European football next season with a 1-0 win at Hibs. Available to UK users only.

Hibs fans, we asked for your views on the 1-0 loss to Motherwell that meant David Gray's side missed out on guaranteed European football and fourth place.

Here is what some of you said:

Stephen: Same old story, no fight, no guts, no guile. It's embarrassing seeing the gap between us and Hearts. Time for change. It's been a poor, poor season. Take a leaf out of Motherwell's book, we need a new manager and a new direction.

Colin: Poor performance when it mattered. Outplayed and outthought. It was there to be won but we underperformed. Big players didn't show today.

Roger: Every time we have a big match and a full house at Easter Road, Hibs don't turn up. It's happened over a few seasons and we have to sign players with the right attitude. I think David Gray has reached his peak and we need to think of appointing a new coach to take us a step further.

Scott: Being totally honest, Hibs didn't deserve fourth as they were far too inconsistent and Motherwell play great football. The hierarchy now have a decision to make - are they happy with top six or do they want to push the top teams? If it's the latter, Gray has to go.

Jamie: If 1-0 can ever be classed as a hammering, that's what we got today. Motherwell ran rings round us, we failed to generate any momentum and even against 10 men we were passing sideways and backwards. It was the right result - Motherwell have been better than us all season, but that shouldn't be acceptable for a club like Hibs.

Kenny: I've said all year that David Gray is not the man to take Hibs forward. All season his way of setting up the team has been negative. Hibs should now take a lead off Hearts and be going to challenge for the league. If the board have any ambition at all bring in an ambitious manager to take us forward. I would bring in the Motherwell manager right now.

Tugboat: Some of the players have really let David Gray down recently. Motherwell showed more desire than us today. Hopefully we'll have a productive summer, stability behind the scenes, and hit the ground running. I wouldn't mind missing out on Europe - I think it could be detrimental (other than to the club's bank balance).

Mark: We get players sent off in three games running, and lose all three. Motherwell get a player sent off against us, and we still lose. Not good enough. The only reason I want Gray to remain in charge is because, with our track record, it frightens me who we'd appoint next.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was our cup final today to try to finish fourth. After 38 games, the league doesn't lie. If we had won today we would have got what we deserved, but unfortunately on the day we got what we deserved.

"Motherwell desereved to win and congraulations to them because they finish fourth. It was disappointing because of what was at stake. But over the piece Motherwell were the better side.

"The magnitude of the game and the occasion, our first-half performance did not reflect the occasion which is really disappointing. Second half was much better, we were much more agrressive and had much more intensity.

"I didn't change shape. It was more a case of understanding there was 45 minutes to go in the season and the magnitude of the game.

"But congratulations to Motherwell, we've been chasing them for a long time. Going into the split our home form was really strong, but it's now three defeats at home and we won our two away games.

"We've let ourselves down post-split. There will be a lot of time now to reflect on the full season."

Ten-man Motherwell secured fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership and guaranteed European football with a narrow win over Hibernian, who have to sttle for fifth place and hope Celtic win the Scottish Cup to get into the Conference League.

What did you make of that final performance from Hibs and the season as a whole?

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Martin Boyle has agreed a new one-year deal to stay at Hibernian, despite previous confirmation from David Gray this would be the forward's final season.

The 33-year-old has been linked with Aberdeen and clubs further afield, but will now extend his second spell at Easter Road.

"There have been positive talks around his future and he is going to be staying another year," Gray told BBC Scotland before the Motherwell game.

"It's a big decision for him and his family and his advisers, and the Gordon family from the investments made across the time. We feel this is right for everybody.

"You see what he brings to the football club. What he brings, not just on the pitch but off it as well, it's brilliant for everyone involved."

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Hibs welcome Jamie McGrath back from suspension so Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) is set to be the only absentee.

Motherwell have Stephen Welsh back in their squad but Paul McGinn, Jordan McGhee, Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Zach Robinson and Andy Halliday remain out.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Martin Boyle wants to end his "crazy rollercoaster" Hibs career on a high by securing European football for the club with victory over Motherwell on Saturday.

The 33-year-old plays his final game at Easter Road with David Gary's side looking to pip the visiting Steelmen, who are currently a point ahead, to fourth place.

Forward Boyle, a Scottish Cup winner with Hibs in 2016, bows out with no regrets while hoping supporters have seen his love for the club over the years.

"It's a little bit surreal," he said.

"The boys gave me a good send-off after training. I'm fully focused on the game, I think my kids are walking out with me before the game so hopefully I can enjoy it with them, put in a solid performance for the club and secure a European spot.

"It's been a crazy rollercoaster. I think everyone knows what this clubs means to me. Full credit to everyone that stuck by me, managers and staff, it's been fantastic.

"I can't say a bad thing about the club. I've loved it, hopefully everyone can see that and seen that I've given everything for the club. Hopefully I can go out with one more memorable moment."

Boyle, who has spent the past 11 years with Hibs bar a short stint in Saudi Arabia, has no plans on what lies ahead in terms of club football and stresses his full focus is on a World Cup place with Australia.

"Not a clue," Boyle added when asked if he'd thought about his future beyond Hibs.

"Not even thought about it. I've not even put myself in the shop window. My full focus is ending on a high and going to the World Cup.

"I've still got a lot of work to do before the squad is announced. I'm going to pre-camp on Tuesday and I hope I can take this form into camp and get selected.

"I was unfortunate position to miss the last World Cup so to make the squad is my full focus."

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• Hibs and Motherwell have drawn their past two league meetings, but haven't done so three times in a row since December 1999.

• Motherwell have kept a clean sheet in two of their three league games against Hibs this season, as many as their previous 15 beforehand.

• Hibs haven't lost their final game in any of the past five league seasons (W1 D4), although their latest three have been drawn: 1-1 v Hearts in 2022-23, 1-1 v Livingston in 2023-24 and 2-2 v Rangers in 2024-25.

• Including the curtailed 2019-20 campaign, Motherwell have only won their final league game in one of the past six seasons (D2 L3), beating Dundee United 3-2 in 2022-23.

• Since the Scottish Premiership rebranded in 2013, Hibs forward Martin Boyle has been directly involved in 99 goals in the competition (66 goals, 33 assists), one away from being the seventh player with 100+ goal involvements in this time, after James Tavernier (178), Leigh Griffiths (122), James Forrest (117), Alfredo Morelos (105), Callum McGregor (105), and Lawrence Shankland (101).

Sportscene pundit and former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown analyses the 2-1 win at Ibrox that gives David Gray's side the chance to pip Motherwell to a fourth-place finish on Saturday.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Felix Passlack says Hibernian have put themselves in a great position to finish fourth in the Premiership after snatching a dramatic last-gasp victory over Rangers at Ibrox.

Hibs spent much of the game on the back foot after Thelo Aasgaard cancelled out Martin Boyle's early opener for the Edinburgh side.

With the clock ticking towards 90 minutes, Passlack teed up Dane Scarlett to prod home the winner and bank a precious three points that sets up a final-day shootout with Motherwell at Easter Road to secure European football next season.

"It feels great," Passlack told BBC Scotland.

"The first half wasn't good for us. We didn't stick to the plan, especially defensive-wise.

"We talked about it in half-time and I think we had three shots on goal. We scored twice. It was a great evening for us.

"We talked about in recent weeks and months that we try to finish fourth. Saturday it's on the table. Just one win.

"It sounds easy, but it will be a tough game at home and hopefully we will get those three points."

We asked for your views on Hibernian's 2-1 win against Rangers at Ibrox.

Here's what some of you said:

Danny: This result should - but sadly won't - put the David Gray haters' gas at a peep. It's been a weird season - we have beaten both Rangers and Celtic away from home and can still match last season's points. Yet, because we're in fifth rather than third and European football is not yet confirmed, the season is viewed by many Hibbies as a failure. We need to get over that and acknowledge Gray is doing a good job. On Saturday, a win against Motherwell and, yes, a win for Celtic would put a completely different complexion on this campaign.

Kenny: To beat Celtic and Rangers away takes a bit of doing but we have proved again that consistency has been the thing that's let us down from being higher up the league. But a win against Motherwell will get us forth place. A few weeks ago that looked very unlikely but it just shows what an up and down season it's been. Onwards and upwards.

Jim: Hibs never really looked in danger of losing. Rangers huffed and puffed with little end product. Hibs played a great game and the result wasn't flattering or a fluke. Bring on the 'Well.

John: Hibs really need to sign Martin Boyle for another year, what a difference our attacking threat is when Josh Campbell starts. Defence is much better when Grant Hanley is in charge of the backline. Also, massive praise to Felix Passlack.

Scott: Very unexpected win due to our poor record at Ibrox. Let's not kid ourselves though, this Rangers team is one of the poorest I can remember in my 61 years. However, the result brings up a huge final game against Motherwell at Easter Road with a view to European football next season.

William: Great result makes last game a cup final for both teams, and if Hibs win it will end a difficult season on a high and not have to rely on a Celtic cup win.

Chris: Just shows all those doubters that Hibs can do it! Great performance, now finish off the season in style and give Boyle the send off he deserves.

Watch all the highlights as Rangers suffered a fourth successive home defeat for the first time since 1983 as Hibernian edge closer to confirming European football. Available to UK users only.

Rangers slipped to a fourth successive defeat in their last home match of the season as Hibernian celebrated keeping their hopes of fourth place and European football alive on Wednesday night.

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