Ross: We must strengthen

If Hibernian want to keep competing at the top end of the Premiership and get over the line in cup competitions, while also making progress in Europe, they need to bolster the squad rather than allow it to be eroded by a wave of transfer activity.

That is the view of Leith manager Jack Ross, who has overseen their first top-three finish in 16 years and guided them to the latter stages in successive cup competitions this term. “I think we need to [strengthen again] if we want to continue to have prolonged success as a club,” said Ross. “It is something this club hasn’t done regularly enough. It has had its moments, but it hasn’t had periods of sustained success in terms of league positions and being in finals and winning silverware.

“I haven’t done it perfectly, but I would hope I have done a good job so far. But, now, we need to get better and better as a squad.”

Ross believes he has the backing of club owner Ron Gordon as he works to improve on this season’s returns.

He added: “Ron is a brilliant owner – his communication that he has with me, his understanding of the job and his support when I have wanted to strengthen. Recently we had Daniel Mackay coming in from Inverness.

“We are prepared to gamble on younger Scottish players and believe we can turn them into players like Kevin Nisbet and keep progressing them. We will look to do that with Daniel and we will look to do that with others hopefully as well.”