Leeann vows to target Europa

HIBS chief executive Leeann Dempster insists European football should be the target every season – and admits the board plan to provide financial support to help make that happen.

The Leith side moved to within two points of third-placed1 Aberdeen following Friday’s 2-0 victory over Hearts, who they lead by 12 points, in the Edinburgh derby.

Neil Lennon’s side have surpassed their own expectations in their first season back in the top flight as they look to secure Europa League qualification.

And Dempster insists the club are determined to provide all the tools to give the team the chance of consistently competing at the top end of the Premiership.

Dempster said: “We believe that this club should be, and I genuinely want it to be, operating at the top of the league in Scotland.

“For me that means the opportunity to participate in Europe and we want that on an ongoing basis.

“But we’re also very realistic, it’s a challenge for us to get there but we’ve got a plan that says over a period of time we keep the trajectory going that we’ve got at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart admits his old club face a big fight to make sure they finish the Premiership season in the top six.

The Gorgie outfit have a four-point lead over seventh-placed Motherwell, who have a game in hand, after manager Craig Levein’s “natural order” comments came back to haunt him in Friday night’s 2-0 derby defeat at Hibs.

Hearts face Partick Thistle, Dundee and Aberdeen before the split and Stewart fears their season is in real danger of ending with a whimper.

He said: “It’s not great, and that’s the big challenge for Hearts now – to make sure they finish in the top six.

“It’s going to be tight going for the top six, Hearts are not in a great position, they’ve been on this fantastic run initially but things have not been great of late.”