Happy families for Hibs new boy Wright

DREY WRIGHT has revealed his decision to take a risk on Hibernian led to an ear-bashing at home. The winger volunteered to train with the Easter Road outfit before a deal was in place — and the ‘leap of faith’ meant some uncomfortable conversations with his partner.

The 25-year-old had knocked back a new deal at St Johnstone and was also being tracked by Bristol Rovers and Hearts.

But the former Colchester United attacker opted to wait it out as Hibs sporting director Graeme Mathie and manager Jack Ross sorted out budgets. Even if it tested the patience of others.

It was a move that paid off when he penned a two-year deal last week to join Kevin Nisbet and Alex Gogic in signing for the Leith club.

Wright, who became the father of twins during lockdown, said: ‘Speaking to Graeme and the gaffer, they were 100-per-cent honest with me from day one, which is something I appreciated.

‘The risk was that I wouldn’t be walking straight into a contract.

‘I would have to take that leap of faith and put my trust in them that, hopefully, something would get sorted out. And it has done, so I’m thankful to the two of them for getting it done.

‘It wasn’t an easy time, there was a lot of stress in my household. My partner was in my ear every day asking me what was happening and it was hard to just keep telling her I didn’t know, because it was a difficult summer.

‘But we’re on the other side of it now and things are looking up.

‘I think it shows the desire I had to be a Hibs player.

‘Now I just want to get out and show the fans what I can do. Hopefully, they take to me as a player and as a person and I’ll have a good relationship with them moving forward.’

Hearts were keen to pip their city rivals to Wright’s signature and he had to weigh up interest on both sides of the border, but he is convinced that he has now made the right decision in plumping for Hibs.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I was lucky that my phone was ringing a few times and I did have a decision to make.

‘But, with the different markets up here and back down south, it was one of those where you don’t want to miss the opportunity when it comes up, in the case of maybe wanting for better or one that’s more suited.

‘Once the call came through from Hibs and things were starting to progress and it became known I was able to get in the building, it was kind of a no-brainer. I’m exactly where I want to be.’

Wright’s arrival alongside Nisbet and Gogic raised eyebrows at a time when Hibs had intimated they were about to embark on a staff cost-cutting exercise because of the lockdown and the financial implications of the Covid crisis.

But chief executive Leeann Dempster yesterday insisted the club are ‘indebted’ to their fans after claiming the fans will help them emerge from the shutdown in ‘as strong a position as we can be’.

The Easter Road outfit revealed last month they were consulting with players and staff over cutbacks and redundancies after owner Ron Gordon admitted the global health emergency and football shutdown was placing ‘substantial and unsustainable’ strain on the club’s finances.

Gordon warned that ‘difficult choices’ were required to see Hibs through a dramatic 50-per-cent drop in income.

Against that backdrop, Hibs courted controversy by splashing out £250,000 on striker Nisbet from Dunfermline and snapping up outof-contract duo Wright and Gogic.

Dempster conceded they have their supporters to thank for throwing their weight behind a fresh fundraising push from Hibs Supporters, the fan body initially set up to buy a stake in the club.

Almost £25,000 was ploughed in last month, the largest monthly donation of the past year, with 1,000 new or restarted contributors signing up since mid-June.

Dempster said: ‘We are all indebted to our supporters and not least those who have backed Hibernian Supporters.

‘The regular, increasing payments from Hibernian Supporters (HSL) will enable us to emerge from the other side of what has been an uncertain period in as strong a position as we can be. I have said it often enough that we are humbled if not surprised by the level of support.’

Hibs yesterday paid tribute to their fans in the form of a third kit that will be emblazoned with the names of every HSL pledger signed up before October 21 last year.

Dempster added: ‘We liked the idea of the shirt as one opportunity for us to say thank you. Quite simply,