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Paul Heckingbottom rules out any further signings at Hibernian

Paul Heckingbottom rules out any further signings at Hibernian
© Reuters
The midfielder arrived from Bolton this week.

Hibernian head coach Paul Heckingbottom has declared his summer transfer business complete.

Former Bolton midfielder Josh Vela became Heckingbottom's seventh summer signing this week and the Hibs boss says he will be the last.

The former Leeds and Barnsley manager had been working to bring back Marc McNulty and Stephane Omeonga after successful loan spells last season, but a deal for the former proved too expensive and Hibs appear to have given up on their pursuit of the Belgian.

"That's it, we are done," Heckingbottom said. "Unless circumstances change or something unforeseen happens which we have got to react to, that will be it.

"It's been a big change – 11 out and seven in. It's going to take time but we are well on our way.

"We need them to settle down as a group and really understand each other and their roles in the team. You can only do that with games, so I'm glad the competitive games have started."

Vela arrived after deciding to leave England following 17 years with Bolton.

"Josh, we had been speaking to for a while," Heckingbottom said. "He was waiting on an offer from a Championship team who wanted him and got sick of waiting. He knew how keen we were.

"It was a case of, 'I'm not hanging about, I want to sign for Hibs'. Perfect, that's the type of player we want. We were delighted and it happened really quick."

Those negotiations were in contrast to Heckingbottom's experience of trying to sign Funso Ojo. Both Aberdeen and Hibs had bids for the midfielder accepted by Scunthorpe but the player signed for the Dons at the weekend.

But Heckingbottom claimed Hibs had pulled out of the contest.

"We thought it was gone, he came back when Aberdeen had a bid agreed, we matched that," he said.

"But then the player started messing us about a bit, so it was a case of, 'No, we don't want you'.

"You can't be dead set on coming somewhere, the only club for you, and all of a sudden it's not. So as soon as we got those vibes it was time to pull the plug.

"We want people who want to come here and as soon as you get the vibe they are not, good luck, we are not interested in that."

Hibs have Florian Kamberi and Martin Boyle back in their squad for Saturday's Betfred Cup clash with Alloa at Easter Road.

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Paul Heckingbottom in charge of Leeds United on April 13, 2018
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic440092286490
2RangersRangers430184295584
3Hearts412151391267
4Kilmarnock41124543255
5St Mirren41124449-547
6Dundee40044867-1941
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen44004650-447
2Hibernian42025158-745
3Motherwell42025557-243
4Ross County41123665-2934
5St Johnstone40132753-2632
RLivingston42022869-4124
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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