MUELLER CASH WILL ALLOW NEW BOSS TO MAKE SIGNINGS

adapt to Scottish football and has now returned to his homeland, signing a deal with Chicago Fire.

“Chris worked extremely hard in training since he arrived but has found it difficult to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Scottish Premiership, which has severely limited his game time,” said Hibs chief executive Ben Kensell.

“Ultimately, he wants to play football regularly and when the opportunity came about for him to play for his home-town side, it was something he didn’t want to turn down.

“For us, it was vital that this deal made complete sense for the club and alongside this, it has also freed up a significant amount financially that the incoming manager will be able to use.”

It is understood that the club’s hierarchy want to give the new boss as much support as possible and that includes increasing the player budget as they look to revitalise the side and allow it to compete in the higher echelons next term, with another striker and goalkeeper high on their wishlist.

Contract extensions for the likes of Ryan Porteous, pictured left, and Chris Cadden are anticipated this summer but those decisions rest with the incoming manager.

It could also depend on how quickly they manage to move on unwanted players as they look to streamline the squad, adding extra quality rather than quantity.

While Josh Doig continues to attract interest from south of the border and offers could tempt the Leith side to sell the Player of the Year candidate this summer, other fringe players are likely to be told they are free to go.