Craig looks forward to reunion with Raith boss Yogi
HIBS director of football operations George Craig is relishing being reacquainted with John Hughes on Saturday – and insists he has enough tales on the Raith Rovers manager to pen an entertaining novel.
The pair helped bring success to Falkirk but Hughes will be plotting to get his Stark’s Park reign off to a winning start in the visit of Championship leaders Hibs.
With Hughes in the dugout and Craig as a director at the Bairns, the club earned promotion to the top-flight in 2005, and reached the Scottish Cup final four years later.
The likes of Scott Arfield, Darren Barr and Tam Scobbie were also academy success stories.
Craig is delighted to see Hughes back in the game after leaving Inverness last summer, a year after leading Caley to a historic Scottish Cup triumph, and insists he has fond memories of their time working together.
Craig said: “I was really pleased to see him back involved, I know from first hand how passionate he is.
“We’ve always been in touch and that was one of the legacies from our time at Falkirk that there was a group of people that came together and worked on something we were really proud of.
“I could probably write a good novel that you would take on holiday with you but I’d have to break a few confidences.
“That would not be the best thing but I honestly think it would be an enjoyable read.
“The reason I think that is because what would come through is the passion and the enthusiasm that Yogi brought, and the leadership and the motivation.
“I know for a fact the passion and enthusiasm will be there and so will the one-liners.” what Cathro expected from his new playmaker.
He said: “I get the whole thing – the game is quick in Scotland and teams don’t give up. Maybe that’s the biggest difference here. No matter what, your opponent will fight you all the way to the end.
“In other leagues that maybe doesn’t happen as much, but football is still football and someone who understands where the space is, where the pass is, when to make things quicker and when to make it slower is vital.
“From that point of view there was no concern about how Alex would be. In terms of the players who joined us, we brought people specifically to be able to play the football we want to be able to play.”