Miller first arrived on these shores at the tender age of 16 when he joined his boyhood heroes Celtic. It took him six years to make a real impact but such was the impression he eventually made, his manager Martin O’Neil heralded the midfielder as the next big thing. In October 2003, he joked that he wanted Miller to sign a 35 year contract but just three months later Miller penned a deal with Manchester United, a decision that left both manager and the Celtic Park faithful feeling disappointed and a little let down.

Two years and a mere 22 games later, Miller was allowed to leave Old Trafford and Roy Keane snapped him up for Sunderland. Although he was finally able to play regular football once again, his career in the North East ended when he was placed on the transfer list due to poor timekeeping. An ill-fated spell with Queens Park Rangers followed before he spent last summer at home in Ireland contemplating his next move. Since returning to Scotland he has become a pivotal part of John Hughes’ exciting young side.

As we chat at Hibs’ training centre in East Lothian, he bats away my questions with clinical precision, leaving no scraps to be pounced upon.

Do you feel that you let the Celtic fans down when you left? I ask.

“I did what was best for my career”

Why do you think it didn’t work out at United?

“It’s hard to say, I gave it a go but it wasn’t to be.”

Do you speak to Martin O’Neill?

“No, we don’t speak”

So you left on bad terms?

“I didn’t leave on bad terms”

Only once do I manage to catch him a little off guard. “If your career was to end tomorrow”, I muse, “would you be happy with it?”

He hesitates for a minute. “That’s a difficult one” he admits. But then, as a quick as a flash, the steely determination returns and the door slams shut. “It’s had its ups and downs” he concludes, rather inconclusively.

In many ways, his reluctance to elaborate on the past is understandable and his insistence that he has no regrets is admirable. Only once, when talking about his time at Loftus Road, does he admit that it was “probably the wrong move” but he quickly asserts that “you can’t look back with regret.” For someone who maintains that his move to Manchester United was the right one, he seems strangely unenthusiastic about his time there. He notes simply that it was “great training with the calibre of players that were there” and that it was a “great experience”. His time at Sunderland simply had its “highs and lows” but he claims to have enjoyed it even though he believes Keane’s ultimate decision was harsh. Of his return to Celtic with Hibs earlier in the season, he prefers to comment on the “amazing stadium” than any reaction from the home fans. For someone who graced the Parkhead turf on numerous occasions, this seems rather odd.

It is only when we talk about his current club that he opens up slightly. He has admitted before that he was deeply unhappy over the summer but that he was always confident that he would find another club. Now that he has, he clearly feels that the move was the right one. “I’ve settled in well; I know the players on and off the pitch now and I’ve put together a run of games.

“Football is a funny game and you never know what’s going to happen in six months time but I’m enjoying my football.” Miller won’t be drawn on whether John Hughes shares any traits with his previous bosses, saying simply that “the managers I’ve worked for have all been different in their own way. You can see he [Hughes] has a real enthusiasm for the game and a will to win.”

At one stage in the season it looked as if Hibs might split the Old Firm but an indifferent run of form has made that highly improbable. Miller accepts that that now looks unlikely but that third place would constitute a successful season.

“I know people were saying that we were going to split the Old Firm but at the moment they’ve opened up a bit of a gap. At the same time, we were never shouting our mouths off saying that we were going to do this and that; we’ve just taken one game at a time. The manager has come out and said he’d like to finish third and I think we’d all like that.”

The midfielder maintains that he is still ambitious and that he wants to win medals. He believes he can do that in Edinburgh but the Hibs trophy cabinet is hardly bulging; the club hasn’t won the Scottish Cup since 1902 while the League Cup has been lifted just three times in its 135 year history.

If Miller continues his impressive form at Easter Road, he may well become the big fish in a small pond and find himself linked with bigger clubs. With time running out, I pose a final question.

Would you go back to Celtic?

“I’m happy at Hibs.”

I should have known better.

Raith Rovers won through to the fifth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup after seeing off Airdrie United and now face SPL opposition in the competition for the first time since 2004 when they lost to Kilmarnock.

With a bumper crowd expected, Murray is confident that the Kirkcaldy side can give a good showing of themselves.

He said: “The cup will always have a buzz about it and you always want to be in the hat for the next round. No matter what team you are with, there is a chance of a glamour tie and we have that against Aberdeen. The most important thing is to enjoy it.

“We’ve got to be confident and approach the game in the same way we approach every game. We’ve given a good account of ourselves this season and we’ve played some good football and every game is winnable.

“We know it’s a big task but you never know what can happen in a cup tie. You get yourself up for it because it’s a massive game and one any footballer wants to be involved in.

“There is always a team that is the favourite but the result depends on who gets a bit of luck. We’ve got to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about Aberdeen. “

Murray faced Raith in a League Cup tie at Stark’s Park in 1997 while with Hearts and believes that Aberdeen will be cautious of their First Division opponents but the defender doesn’t believe that The Dons indifferent form will be a factor.

“I remember that the match was very close. I came on as
a substitute and we scored a late goal to go through. Aberdeen will definitely be wary of coming to Starks Park and if they’re not firing on all cylinders or they’re not up for it on the day then there is always the chance of an upset.

“I don’t think it matters how Aberdeen have been playing; it will all go out the window. At the end of the day, they are a very good SPL side who are capable of winning any game on any day no matter who it is against.”

This stage of the competition is familiar ground for Murray. He was part of the Hearts squad that beat Rangers to lift the Scottish Cup in 1998 and nine years later, he helped Kilmarnock to the League Cup Final against Hibs but an injury meant he only made the bench.

He added: “I was lucky enough to be involved in the previous rounds with Hearts and I also played in the semi final. I knew it would be difficult to keep my place for the final as it was some time away and there were experienced players coming back from injury. It was a great experience to be involved in and I was fortunate to be one of the three subs although I didn’t get on.

“I played in every round up until the final with Kilmarnock but I pulled my hamstring the week before. I managed to make the bench but it was just one of these things. It was good to be involved with teams that made it that far.”

Having been a goal and a man down to Airdrie in the last round, it looked as if Raith would again miss out on a glamour tie. Murray was always confident that they would make it however.

He admitted: “There were points in the game when you think it’s going to be difficult. We went behind but when you’re on the pitch you just have to keep going. The game lasts for 90 minutes and it only takes seconds to score a goal.

“David McGurn made a great save just before half time that was probably a big turning point for us. We came out after half time and got ourselves back in the game and were unfortunate not to go on and win it. We managed to do it the replay which we were delighted about. It’s a credit to the players and to everyone at the club that we’re through.

“Obviously we’ll be the underdogs but it’s a big tie for a team like Raith and it’s a day to look forward to.”

Having helped County to the Second Division title in 2008, Barrowman opted to join Highland rivals Inverness but the move soon turned sour.

With County closing in on Dundee at the top of the First Division, he hopes he can recapture the form he showed during his first spell with the club.

Barrowman, who is eligible to face Stirling in the Scottish Cup this afternoon, explained:

“The move came about quite quickly. I heard about in the last few days of the transfer window and it was about 10 o’clock on the Monday when it went through so I was a little bit nervous but I was delighted when it was signed and sealed.

“I’m delighted to be back. It’s a club I know very well; I know a lot of the players as well as the management staff. I’m looking forward to enjoying my football and I can’t wait for the games to start.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time here before and hopefully I can emulate what I did the last time.”

Barrowman maintains that the move to Inverness was the right one and believes he is a better player for it.

He added: “I don’t have any regrets at all. I made the choice at the time because I felt it was the right one.

“I’m definitely a stronger person; sometimes you learn more about yourself during the hard times and I think I’ve improved as a player.”

“I don’t feel I have anything to prove. I’ll work as hard as I can to score goals and I believe I’m good enough to score goals in the First Division. I just want to get out and show that.”

County currently occupy second place in the division and could leapfrog Dundee if they win their games in hand.

Barrowman is cautious about the prospects of promotion however.

He said: “We’ll just take each game as it comes. We’re in a great position but there’s still a lot of football to be played. The First Division is a difficult league as anyone can beat anyone on the day.

“There are still a lot of twists and turns to happen. We’ll just keep going as we have been and wait and see where we are at the end of the season.”

The midfielder was released by Ayr United last month and jumped at the chance to rejoin his old club.

Aitken said: “It feels good to be back. It didn’t work out for me at Ayr but Allan Moore has taken me back and I just want to get back in the thick of it!

“It didn’t work out the way I or Ayr wanted it to but that happens in football. I don’t have any bad feelings towards Ayr and I’d like to think they don’t have any towards me.

“I don’t regret going to Ayr but looking at it now, maybe if I had stayed at Stirling it would have worked out. I’m just happy to be back and looking to concentrate on my football.

“People can say that I shouldn’t have left Stirling but it wasn’t a decision I made overnight. I sat down with Allan Moore and Brian Reid and at the time we thought it was the right thing to do.

“To be fair, it was shown to be the right decision last season when I captained the team to promotion.”

Having spent over three years at Forth bank, Aitken didn’t have to be asked twice about returning to the club.

He added; “It was an easy decision to make to come back. Once I knew that I could move on from Ayr I spoke to Allan and there was really only one place I was going to end up.

“I’m just hoping to pitch in and help the boys win the league.”

Stirling currently lie two points behind league leaders Cowdenbeath and the title run in will be familiar territory for Aitken.

He said: “I was in the same situation last year with Ayr and it’s all about having a good run at this time of year.

“At Ayr we took care of our home form and just fell short after a couple of bad results away from home. I don’t think it will be any different for Stirling this year.

“There will be points dropped between now and the end of the season. With this weather, we’re going to be playing Saturday, Tuesday , Saturday, Tuesday and that’s a lot of games.

“If we can concentrate on winning our home games I don’t think we’ll be far away.

“The ideal scenario would be to end up back in the First Division and to play the teams I’ve been playing against this year but there is a lot of work to be done between now and then.

“We need to concentrate on what we do this season and next season will take care of itself.”

Should Stirling win promotion, Aitken is well aware of the difficulties they will face in the First Division.

He admitted: “The squad is definitely good enough to get promotion but we’d be in the same boat as we were the last time if we go up as the part time team.

“You’re up against it right away and we just fell short last time and it would be up to the manager to strengthen the squad.

“If we do go up it will be one hell of task staying in the league. The other teams are full time and it’s hard going.”

Aitken has signed until the end of the season but has no plans to leave the club again, regardless of which division they are in.

He concluded: “Hopefully I can put in a few good performances and come the end of the season, whatever league Stirling are in, they can offer me something else.

“I’d be delighted to stay.”

Raith boss McGlynn has emerged as a leading candidate to take over at Tannadice in recent days after Levein agreed to become Scotland manager.

Having worked with Levein at Hearts, and having been recommended to Raith Rovers by the new Scotland manager in 2006, McGlynn is likely to be in the thoughts of United chairman Stephen Thompson.

Davidson admitted that he expected McGlynn to be linked to the job.

He said: “I’m not surprised that he’s been linked with Dundee United.

“It was Craig Levein who recommended him to the board of directors at Raith Rovers and that proved to be a good decision.

“Even before the situation at Dundee United he was linked with other clubs which shows that he is well thought of in the game.

“He’s a workaholic and has done really well for himself while he’s been here. You can’t deny him the chance to go on to bigger and better things.”

McGlynn led Raith to the Second Division title last season and his side have made a promising start to life in the First Division.

Davidson has been impressed with his manager to date and believes he has the attributes needed to be successful.

He added: “I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“He’s transformed the club from top to bottom since he arrived and he’s laid some good foundations.

“He is eager to do well and is very professional. He is very organised and his preparation is very detailed. These are the key things he has going for him.

“I don’t see any reason why he can’t make the step up.
He was at Hearts for years and was the caretaker manager there.

“He knows the SPL well enough if the situation arises.”

Having played under Levein during his brief stint as manager at Stark’s Park, Davidson has noted several similarities between McGlynn and his predecessor.

“They do have a lot of similarities. Craig Levein is pretty big on video analysis and that’s one thing John McGlynn brought into Raith Rovers for example.

“John will have picked up various things when he was Hearts and when he was working with Craig, as he will have done from the other managers.”

While at Dundee United, Craig Levein overhauled the youth system and Davidson was keen to point out that John McGlynn has done likewise in Kirkcaldy.

“The youth players have great respect for him and very they’re lucky to have the manager taking their training a lot of the time as that doesn’t happen often in football.

“We get spoiled by him and it feels likes an SPL club.

“He wants the best for the players and for the staff.”

When Berti Vogts was sacked just over five years ago, the Independent’s headline read “Smith in line to replace Scotland coach Vogts” Today, the papers claim that Walter Smith is once again among the front runners; this time to replace George Burley. It seems that the Rangers boss has gotten himself a reputation as someone who can clear up a mess. He did it for Scotland before and then he did it for Rangers after Paul le Guen was dismissed.

Much like a street cleaner at 3 am on a Sunday morning, Smith can help you forget that the previous night ever happened.

There will no doubt be plenty of support for Smith among the hierarchy at the SFA and some of it is justified. Few people will forget the win over France at Hampden and his brief spell in charge laid the foundations for Alex McLeish who almost led the nation to Euro 2008. Smith would instantly command respect from the players, something it would seem Burley failed to do. Although it would mean a return to the days of shutting up shop and hitting teams on the counter attack; we must all accept that winning is everything at this level and if that means playing one up front against San Marino then so be it.

It seems inevitable that Smith will leave Rangers in the near future and there is little chance of him being tempted back into club management. He is 61 after all and while the Scotland job is hardly the football equivalent of a retirement spent weeding the garden, the pressures are far less than they are at Ibrox.

The problem with Smith is that his appointment would smack of a lack of ambition. Come Euro 2012, he will be 64 and he may well be ready for a rest. Yes, we need a safe pair of hands but changing the manager again in three years time is not the answer. Whoever gets the job must be looking as far ahead as Brazil in 2014 or even Euro 2016.

The other front runner is current Dundee United manager Craig Levein and there is little doubt he deserves to be among the favourites. His managerial record in Scotland is impressive and although his spell at Leicester was ill fated, it seems that he took charge of a sinking ship. The club have only just returned to the Championship after a series of managers were unable to get it right at the Walker’s Stadium. There is little doubt that United will be reluctant to part with their manager and Levein himself must be aware of the job security he currently enjoys. At 45, he is in no rush to take a gamble at this stage. He would also vulnerable to an approach from a club side just as Walter Smith and Alex McLeish were. It must be said however that he represents the best choice of those who are likely to be interested.

The majority of the other candidates can be ruled out pretty quickly. Gary McCallister? Has said he wants to manage a club side. Billy Davies? Happy at Nottingham Forrest. Jimmy Calderwood? Scotland can’t play with four strikers. Darren Ferguson? Too inexperienced. John Collins? Could be tempted away by a big job.

It is my belief therefore that Scotland must follow Ireland’s lead. While they will struggle to reach the World Cup after their narrow first leg to defeat to France, their performances during qualifying justified their decision to appoint Giovanni Trapattoni. Only their inability to turn a draw into a victory prevented them from qualifying automatically.

Ireland were of course only able to appoint Trapattoni due to the assistance of Denis O’Brien who has reportedly forked out £1.5m to help cover the Italian’s considerable wages. Clearly, the SFA do not have this kind of money to throw at a new manager but there must be a rich Scots entrepreneur out there who feels as frustrated as the rest of the Tartan Army and who could lend a hand.

Should this happen, Scotland must be bold. Berti Vogts was a disaster but that doesn’t mean that a foreigner can’t lead our nation. In my opinion, it should be top of the agenda.

Step forward Gerard Houllier. The Frenchman may not be a favourite on Merseyside but he did lead them to four major trophies including a treble in 2000-01. Rafa Benitez has won two. Having said that he was interested in a return to international football, Houllier was released from his contract at Lyon having won back to back titles. He was linked with the vacant Republic of Ireland, England and South Korea manager positions but remains unemployed. He must be sounded out by the SFA.

The other option in my opinion is Leo Beenhakker; although his recent failure to guide Poland to the World Cup is a blot on his otherwise impressive CV. He did however guide them to Euro 2008 and famously took Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup in Germany. Now Technical Director at Feyenoord, he may be reluctant to make a quick return to management but someone who has coached Ajax, Real Madrid and Holland must surely have something to offer and must not be overlooked.

While one may point out that both of these managers are in the twighlight of their careers; so is Trapattoni. What Ireland have also done is appoint ready made successors as his assistants. Marco Tardelli has said he would be keen to take over when Trap retires while Liam Brady offers another potential option.

The SFA are under pressure to appoint the right man. Again.

This time, they cannot disappoint.

This time, they must be bold.

The striker grabbed a double against Airdrie; his first league goals since the opening day of the season.

Now, with Leigh Griffiths absent from today’s top of the table clash against Queen of the South, Higgins will be handed the task of seeing off the Doonhamers.

The former Ross County hit man admitted that he was glad to finally find the back of the net.

He said: “They were my first league goals since the first game of the season so I was relieved.

“I’d been working hard but they hadn’t been going in for me but thankfully I managed to get a double on Saturday.

“I scored in the semi final of the Challenge Cup and as long as the teams winning, it doesn’t matter if I’m not scoring as long as I keep working hard and I’m still involved.

“Obviously scoring goals is a bonus though.”

With competition for places fierce, Higgins is all too aware of the players waiting in the wings to take his place.

He added: “If you’re not pulling your weight or performing well you’ll be out the team and someone else will take your place.

“With the quality we have in the squad, it would be hard to get back in.

“If I’m on the bench I just have to accept it and do my best if I get the chance to get on.”

Dundee’s top front man Leigh Griffiths will be absent from this afternoons mouth-watering clash as he lines up for Scotland in their Under 21 qualifier with Azerbaijan.

Higgins admits that the loss of his strike partner is a blow.

“It’s disappointing as Leigh has been flying and he’s been scoring goals.

“He’s definitely a talent that we’ll miss but I’m sure Pat Clarke or Colin McMenamin will do their best and not let the team down.”

Dundee suffered their only defeat of the season at the hands of today’s visitors back in September but were hard done to when goalkeeper Tony Bullock was wrongly sent off.

Nevertheless, Higgins felt that Dundee performed well that day but expects a tough encounter this afternoon.

“We played well down there although we had Tony Bullock sent off after five minutes. It wasn’t a sending off because it’s been rescinded and even with ten men I thought we looked good.

“With the results Queen of the South have had and the fact they’re top of the league, we have to take them very seriously and be on our game. We need to get the three points at home.”

Much was expected from big spending Dundee this season even before a ball was kicked in anger but they are yet to dominate proceedings as many had forecast.

Higgins accepts that they have yet to find top gear but expects that to change soon.

“I think there’s a lot more to come from us.

“Thankfully we have a big squad as we’ve been unfortunate with injuries especially in defence. David Cowan has been injured and Sparky [Griffiths] missed the start of the season with swine flu.

“Once we have our full squad back and there’s more competition for places we’ll hit our best form.

“I think we’ve done well enough though and we’re sitting joint top but there’s definitely room for improvement.”

With only five points separating the top five teams in the league, the First Division has proved to be extremely competitive this year; something Higgins doesn’t expect to change.

He said: “I don’t think anyone will pull away at the top. I’ve played in this division for long enough to realise how tight it is and that anyone can beat everyone else.

“Every game is a hard game in the First Division so I don’t think there will be gaps between the teams.

“Promotion was the aim at the start of the season and that hasn’t changed.

“We’ve got to look to win every game, especially at home.

“We want to win on Saturday and go three points clear of Queen of the South and if results elsewhere go our way it could be a good weekend for us. “

The veteran striker is hoping to fire Ayr to victory against Airdrie this afternoon in order to ignite their season.

The Somerset Park side have won only once in the league to date and were crushed 5-1 at home to Inverness last weekend.

Roberts is well aware of the importance of today’s game for both sides.

He said: “It’s a massive game for both teams. We’re in a bad spell of form at the moment and losing this one would be disastrous.

“We’ve been trying to work out where things have gone wrong and hopefully we can rectify that and get the result we need.

“We are pretty confident but it will be a hard game. Airdrie are in the same position and need to get their first win and will be just as fired up as we are.”

Despite their poor start to the season, Roberts reckons that Ayr have already shown that they can compete at this level.

He added: “We’ve actually competed well in most of the games this season and not looked out of our depth.

“Obviously the result last Saturday was terrible but in fairness, we’ve been there or thereabouts in the other games.

“We’ve just not had the breaks but that’s what happens when you’re down at the bottom of the league. We just need to keep working away.

“There are parts of the team that we’ve worked on but sometimes it’s been individual errors that have cost us.

“I think the guys are confident enough in their own ability but when things don’t go for you every little mistake is punished.

“We need to get that sorted and start climbing the table otherwise we’ll be in for a relegation battle.”

Roberts has played for Kilmarnock, Airdrie, Shelbourne, St. Mirren and Partick Thistle throughout his career but he has never been relegated.

He said: “I’ve been at teams that have struggled but I’ve never been involved in a relegation battle.

“It’s only the guys that are at the club now that can get us out of this position because the manager has any money to bring people in.

“We need to stick together and work hard.

“If it doesn’t happen this week then it’ll happen next week.”

Despite playing for both Airdrieonians and Airdrie United, Roberts insists he will have no sympathy if he can help Ayr see off his old side.

“I scored against them in the play-off final and I’d love to go up there and do it again!

“It makes no difference who we are playing; we need to get the points.

“That’s all I’m interested in at the moment.”

The First Division has already lost one manager in the form of Morton’s Davie Irons but Roberts doesn’t feel that Ayr boss Brian Reid has anything to worry about.

Roberts insisted: “It would be harsh if anything happened to the manager and I don’t think anything will to be honest.

“The team do need to get results but the manager doesn’t need to worry.

“He’s done a great job since he came to the club.

“He got us promoted and we’re only 11 games into the season so there is a long way to go.

“If we go on a run of four or five wins and start climbing the league then our bad start will be forgotten about.

” It’s up to the players to do that.”

One man who is still smiling however is John Hughes. In fact, he has probably not stopped grinning since Hibs chairman Rod Petrie offered him the chance to manage the club he supported as a boy.

As we chat in the coach’s lounge at the club’s swish training complex, even the teeming rain outside fails to dampen his spirits. “When I drove into work this morning and saw the rain, I had the biggest smile on my face” he says. “This is great training weather; we’ll have flying headers and slide tackles!”

Hughes’ enthusiasm is infectious. It’s easy to see how much this club means to him and it’s refreshing to see a manager wear his heart on his sleeve rather than roll out the tried and tested stock answers to my questions. Football managers are under more pressure than ever before but Hughes seems to revel in it. He’s worked hard to get here but the hard work has only just started. He’s in this for the long haul. He wants to “die in the saddle, involved in football”.

He may have only been in the job for a matter of months but ‘Yogi’ knows the club like the back of his hand. Having watched from the terraces as a fan, he then pulled on the jersey as a player and has now completed the circle.

“I’ve always had the ambition to come back here as manager”, he admitted. “I’m Leith born and bred and when the opportunity came up to manage the club, I didn’t think twice. I still had a year on my contract at Falkirk but I felt I’d taken them as far as I could. There was a wee chance that I would go down south and there were two or three things happening there but as soon as Hibs came calling, that was it. It’s the best thing that could have happened to me. Sometimes you can’t see the woods for the trees and it’s as if someone switched the light on since I came here. I needed to move on from Falkirk.

“I hope I’m here for the next ten years but to do that I need to bring success to the club. I know I’ll leave the club one day and that might be when I move on to better things with everybody wishing me well because I’ve done a good job or because I’ve not been a success and they need to bring somebody else in.

“I come in here with a spring in my step every morning; I can’t get in here quickly enough. I appreciate what I’m coming in to. I’ve played football when we had goals on top of Transit vans while trying to find a piece of grass. We were training on red ash but coming in here is like coming into a David Lloyd centre. If you don’t want to come in here to work, you shouldn’t be pulling on the strip. That’s what I try to get through to the players. They have to enjoy it while they’re here because they won’t get it any better.

“They get catered for a lot but I think we have to do that. The club has moved on ten fold since I was last here; it has evolved so much. The training centre wasn’t here and we were all over the place just looking for somewhere to train. This is a great environment; the players get their breakfast in the morning, they can get a massage, we’ve got steam rooms and hydrotherapy rooms. We have got indoor facilities to train on as well as gymnasiums. I just wish I had has this at my disposal. They mustn’t take it for granted though; if they do that then that’s where they fall down. We try to get through to them that they have to appreciate what they’ve got and to be fair to them, I think they do.”

Hughes’ methods are actually pretty straightforward. Respect, hard graft and desire are his buzz words. Meet his expectations and he’ll be your best friend but cross him and you’ll be catching the next bus home.

He openly admits that it took a while for him to realise that only these qualities would get him to where he wanted to be. Now he’s using his experience to bring on the next generation of Hibs players.

“I always had ambitions to become a full time professional but it took me a while. I was a painter and decorator and didn’t turn professional until I was 23. The penny dropped when I was around 22 but until then I was a young boy who thought the world was my oyster, that I could go for a drink and still keep fit. Then I realised I needed to work hard on my fitness. It was as if someone had switched the light on for me. I read all the books, educated myself and got myself fit. I started playing in the junior leagues and it just took off from there. I always had the belief that I could make it and it was just a matter of getting my foot on the ladder. My father was a great influence on me; in fact he was my hero. He was a great guide, telling me what to do and when to do it.

“I think I treat people the way I want to be treated. Young boys come in here and it takes a year for them to come out of their shells but we can’t wait that long. I have to make sure they’re at ease and that they want to be here. I can pass on my mistakes as well and give them guidance. The biggest frustration I experience is when you see one or two young boys blowing it in terms of their attitude and their application. I’ve been in the game for 25 years and I tell them, ‘don’t take me on’. The false bravado they display is so transparent.

“As a manager, I set my own standards that I feel are appropriate at the club and it’s up to the players to meet those standards. The players know that I’m in it with them but they know who the gaffer is. One or two might not appreciate what they’ve got and that the grass is greener on the other side. If that’s the case, then they move on. You have to be a grafter and hard work has to be your best pal. If hard work doesn’t stimulate you, just stay in the house. If you’re getting paid to keep fit, learn about the game and improve yourself, you’ve won the lottery. It’s just a case of getting that message through to them.

“Everyone thinks that it’s just about the football but its not; it’s about your character, your desire and your application. If you’ve got that in abundance, especially the younger guys, then that gives you the right to play and you get better [as a footballer] as the years go by. The guys I want here are the ones who wear the jersey with a bit of pride. There are bigger clubs in Scotland- Celtic and Rangers- but for me this is the best club.”

Hughes might, quite rightly, talk up the new academy but he acknowledges that there is a downside.

“Football has changed. There used to be miners coming up from the pits and they would do a shift and then come and play football. It’s the same with the boxers in America who come from the ghetto and find their salvation in the gym. They go on to become world champions but then start wearing silk pyjamas and have silk sheets on their bed but then they’re not world champion anymore because the underdog is still training in the gym and working hard.

“We’ve got it too easy now. We have the academy here and it’s fantastic, I wouldn’t change it and it’s up to us to make it work but my academy started at eight o clock in the morning and it didn’t finish until eleven o’clock at night. The street was my academy and now we’ve taken that and moved it inside. You have to move with the times though. You have to be innovative but you have to retain your values. It’s easy to get caught up in it and go for a night out but before you know it your career is down the tubes. You have to have the discipline to know what you have to do.”

Whether it was fate or merely a coincidence, Hughes has the opportunity to work with one of Hibs’ brightest talents who has often seemed to let the trappings of success go to his head. Derek Riordan is currently banned from every nightclub in Edinburgh after a string of incidents and was arrested for breach of the peace just last month. Hughes’ offers an insight into the player and you feel that if anyone can get the best out of him, it is him.

“Derek has been fantastic since I came to the club. I don’t know what people’s perception of him is but he keeps himself to himself. He does things on the training pitch that are unbelievable but you do get frustrated because you wonder if he can do it all the time. He’s great to work with but you do need to kick his backside sometimes.

“He’ll have to start maturing and let the penny drop. He’ll have to decide where to go, when to go and who to go with. If you fly with the crows, you get shot with the crows and sometimes the other ones get away with it and you get caught because you’re the name and I’m sure that’s happened to him once or twice.”

Hibs have been very much a selling club over the years. The fans have seen Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Steven Fletcher leave for pastures new over the years while very little money has been spent on their replacements. John Collins left the club because he felt he didn’t have the necessary resources while Mixu Paatelainen also felt that the financial constraints were a step too far.

I suggest to Hughes that this must be a source of frustration but he’s quick to dismiss it.

“We have a great history of producing young players and selling them on and I want to keep doing that. One day I want to turn round to the board and say ‘we need to sell this player even though he’s the best we’ve got, because we’ve got one right underneath him whose better.’

“We will always be a selling club. I have to make sure the books balance and I think the job the chairman has done is remarkable. There is frustration at times and I think even the chairman feels it as well but everyone has a boss to answer to. If he says its good business to sell then he’s got to sell. If you build a house for £300,000 and someone offers you £600,000 for it two months later, are you going to say no? You take the business and you move on and that’s life. Football is like any other business.

“You can’t always get what you want but as a coach can’t you develop your own talent? You’re not telling me that I don’t have a David Beckham or a Lionel Messi at this club. They might only be seven or eight years old but they’re in the system and it’s up to us to get that out of them. If you can’t get them at the top end, make sure the coaching is in place at the academy and you can produce the kids. It’s up to us to coach and nurture them.”

It’s a sensible answer but long term plans don’t offer immediate success and in the cut throat business of football, that is something everyone wants. Hughes might be an optimist, but he is also realistic. He spent five years as manager at Falkirk and kept the club in the Premier League, reached a League Cup Semi Final and a Scottish Cup Final. He will be aiming higher up the league with his new club, but his cautious approach remains the same.

“Our aim is to keep our feet on the ground and it takes years to get things working your way. We want success but it doesn’t happen overnight. I want to produce the young players; I want to be the pride of Scotland in terms of how we play our football. I want to be the best coach I can and I want the players to enjoy my training and come in with a smile on their face. I want the fans to be excited about coming to Easter Road. I don’t want to put expectations on ourselves because as soon as you say something, people want it tomorrow. I’m not buying myself time though, results, the style of football and the players I bring to the club will be things that I hang my hat on.

“Everyone wants the Holy Grail, they want the Scottish Cup. It would be great if I could win that but we have to be up there in the top four or five in the league. We have to get to the latter stages of cup competitions. If we keep banging on the door, it will open and I hope it does so during my tenure.”

It’s hard not to be impressed with Hughes. His management career may be in it’s infancy but there are clear parallels with two other Scots who have done on to great things. Sir Alex Ferguson continues to enjoy success at the highest level while Bill Shankly managed Liverpool until he was 60. Both Ferguson and Shankly came from similar backgrounds to Hughes; Ferguson worked on the Clyde shipyards while Shankly worked at the Glenbuck Colliery. Hughes may have a long way to go to match the achievements of the aforementioned duo but his dedication to the cause is unquestionable and it would take a brave man to bet against him enjoying success for a long time yet.

“I feel that I’m cheating myself when I’m not here” he concludes. “I want to die in the saddle, involved in football. I don’t want to retire. If it’s not as a manger then as a coach, I love the banter and the different people you meet.

“You have to keep your finger on the pulse and if you wake up in the morning and you don’t want to go into work, you should just quit.”

“When the flame goes out; it’s time to pack it in.”

Now he is determined to make this a season to remember for Queen of the South; starting at his old haunting ground this afternoon.

Wilson spent just under two years at the Kirkcaldy club over a decade ago and was part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League and experienced the great European adventure.

Now in his twilight years, the midfielder is determined to go out on a high by winning the league with the Dumfries side.

Wilson said: “I can just about remember my time at Raith!

“It’s a long time ago now but they were exciting times for the club and I was lucky to be part of it.

“They had some really good players who had won the Coca Cola Cup and then we had the European adventure.”

“I won my first league title there. A year before I had been playing in the Highland League and all of a sudden I was playing a few games in Europe. I was fortunate enough to get a goal in one of the games [against Gotu Ittroterfelag].

“It was a massive thing for me at the time; and for a lot of the players. It’s something I look back on with fondness.

“I’ve been back to Starks Park a few times with Inverness and Livingston but I think most of the Raith fans are too young to remember me! I’m sure there will be some stick when I’m on the park.”

After a five year spell with Inverness, Wilson joined Queens in January last year. After a good start to the season, the Doonhamers dropped away to finish fifth. Wilson is determined to ensure that they maintain their good start this season.

He added: “We were always hopeful of getting a good start. We did so last season but let it slip away.

“It’s a cliché but if we can keep our players fit and free from suspension then hopefully we can keep up our challenge but it’s going to be a big ask.

“The league is going to very tight, at least until after Christmas. If any team can put a run together of four or five wins then they’ll be right up the top, even teams down to the likes of Morton.

“Teams will be dropping points all the time and I don’t think there has been a stand out side in the league yet.

“Dundee were down to ten men after five minutes when we played them so it was hard to assess them but in my opinion, there won’t be one team that runs away with it.”

Wilson also reserved praise for his old club who have also made a strong start to their league campaign.

“For a team to come up, especially a part time one, and do so well, I think Raith have been the team of the season so far.

“I’ve seen them a few times and they’ve really impressed me. I thought they were unlucky not to at least get a draw against Inverness in midweek.

“They’ve been a breath of fresh air to the league.”

At 37, Wilson is aware that his days as a player are numbered and he has already set his sights on remaining in the game as a coach.

He admitted: “I’ve had a great career and although you don’t know how long you can go on, it’s obviously coming up to that time [to retire].

“I said three years ago that I’d only play one more season but I got to the end of it and the manager wanted me to stay.

“There was no point stopping just because I was 34; it’s about how you feel rather than what age you are.

“If you can still contribute to a team then in this day and age you’ve got to take what you can get.

“Coaching is something I’m very keen to get involved in and the manager [Gordon Chisholm] involves me as much as he can.

“I’ve been keen to do it for the last three or four years but having continued to play, its been harder to get into it.

“I’ve taken things on board from every manager I’ve worked with; both what to do and what not to do.

“You’ve got to learn and the best way to do that is when you’re still playing and to look at training from a manager’s point of view rather than just from a player’s point of view.”