Ross insists Dempster exit will not disrupt his transfer window plans
Jack Ross believes Hibernian will miss Leeann Dempster after she leaves - but is also confident the chief executive's departure will not hamper his plans for the January sales.
Dempster stepped into the breach to lead the re- organisation of the club after they were relegated in 2014.
Within t wo years she had presided over the Easter Road outfit's first Scottish Cup win in 114 years. Promotion back to the top- flight followed in 2017 and Ross believes that is the lasting legacy by which she will be remembered in Leith after announcing she is stepping down to spend more time with her family.
Ross - who has guided his side to their current position of fourth having been appointed by Dempster midway through last season - said: "When I took the job a new structure had just been put in place.
"Graeme Mathie was named sporting director, which has meant my interaction with Leeann has probably been less than with some previous managers. However, that's not to say her and I have not had a good working relationship and been in regular communication.
"I knew Leeann to an extent before I came to the club and that was part of the attraction. I spoke to her on more than one occasion before joining the club and the opinion I had of her was only reinforced when I met her.
"He r l e g a c y wi l l b e t h e s t r ongest t hi ng when s he
leaves here, with the work that she's done and the success that the club has had in that period, which includes winning the Scottish Cup.
"She's l eaving the club i n a really good place and will undoubtedly be a really big miss. I spoke to her for a while yesterday so I know that when the moment comes to leave the club for the last time it will be hard because it's been such a big part of her life for the last six- and- a- half years."
But Ross is confident Hibs
will not miss a beat when the transfer market opens in January, thanks to Mathie and club owner Ron Gordon.
"I s p o k e t o Ro n y e s t e r - day afternoon and I'm quite relaxed about it in terms of any impact on my side of things," he said. "That's not to be flippant about Leeann's departure - far from it, as I've spoken at length about her significance.
"But I don't see it having any major impact on our ability to do anything in January and the planning behind it."
Hibs welcome Dundee to the capital today for their Betfred Cup second- round clash. Ross' team claimed a 4- 1 win when the sides last met in the group stages just two weeks ago and the Hibs boss said: "I never pay too much attention to a team's previous results because on any given day, a team can produce a performance or have moments of fortune. We'll be as respectful this time as we were before the first match."
Paul Hanlon will be absent for Hibs after limping off early
against St Johnstone on Tuesday night with a groin injury. Kyle Magennis and Lewis Stevenson are nearing returns but this weekend will come too soon, while Scott Allan remains on the sidelines.
Dundee strikers Alex Jakubiak and Jonathan Afolabi are set to return from injury while Charlie Adam is expected to feature despite having to sit out training earlier this week with a tight hamstring. Danny Mullen misses out after being ordered to self- isolate.