(Photo by Ewan Bootman/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hibs chief executive Ben Kensell has said the Hibees are going to to take their “destiny in (their) own hands” when it comes to developing new stars as he confirmed they’d be investing in a games programme rather than looking to follow Rangers and Celtic by fielding a B team in the Lowland League.
The Old Firm have been taking part in a year-long pilot that sees them field a B team – with Hearts interested in following suit next season if there isn’t the return of a reserve league – but Kensell is looking to test the best young players at Hibs against sides from south of the border.
“When we talk about the development team, the reason why perhaps it is being profiled a little bit more than others is because Hibs probably haven’t done anything in the past on it,” Kensell said [Evening News].
“The gap between under-18 teams, which have a structured league under the SFA, and the first team, is a chasm. It’s too big.
“We’re building a programme up because what I’m not going to do is wait for the authorities and governing bodies to decide what they want to do when we’ve already waited for long enough.
“For me, we take our destiny in our own hands and start forming a pathway for players.
“We are investing in a games programme and that will involve playing some teams down south.
“We will travel to them, they will travel to us, and we also want to do that up here in Scotland as well so we actually get competitive games, albeit friendlies.
“The players may not be first team just yet, but with more gametime and being coached the way that Shaun wants his players to play, and with a really good relationship between Shaun and Steve, I think this will be more successful than doing nothing.”
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