Euan McLean’s Algarve Diary

Players after arestdayare snookered

HAVING checked into my own hotel there was time to get just a few hours kip before the early journey to Hibs’ team hotel on the outskirts of Algarve resort Portimao.

There we found the squad enjoying a day of rest which for some – most of all boss Neil Lennon – meant taking full advantage of the three golf courses that stretch across their five-star hotel’s sprawling grounds.

But amid this laidback atmosphere the competitive fires still burned red-hot around the snooker table in the foyer that has been a magnet for people all week.

Word on the street is Danny “The Shark” Swanson is the man to beat on the green baize.

And even chief executive Leeann Dempster was getting in on the action yesterday after taking on player liaison officer Gavin Gillies.

It’s surely not a great career move to whip the big boss lady at any sport but fair play to Gav for fearlessly proving his misspent youth by taking her to the cleaners with some merciless potting.

Earlier, when asked how he was faring in the ongoing snooker tournament, goalkeeper Ofir Marciano didn’t hesitate in delivering a killer putdown to the young lads gathered around the table at the time.

He said: “These are just the pre-qualifiers, I don’t need to worry about that.”

Outside the sun re-emerged just in time for the lads to make the most of their time off after the previous day had seen their goalless friendly match against Excelsior Rotterdam played in pouring rain.

Good news is the weather is forecast to stay pleasant for the remainder of the trip that will come to its conclusion tomorrow with another friendly against more Dutch opposition in the shape of Willem II.