Yesterday, Hibs boss Pat Fenlon explained that he was close to bringing in a new face to add to his squad for the coming season. The identity of the mystery player has now been revealed as Coventry City midfielder Gary Deegan who has signed a one year deal with Hibs to join up with his former boss at Easter Road.
The twenty-four year old previously played under Fenlon while with Bohemians where they won two League of Ireland championships together. Deegan says that he is thrilled to be reunited with his old boss and he is looking forward to linking up with some other familiar faces at Easter Road.
Deegan told Hibs TV:- “I’m absolutely delighted to have signed for Hibs – it is a perfect move for me and I’m excited about what we can achieve in the season ahead. Pat is a manager, who gets the best out of me. When I played for him at Bohemians, I felt he improved me as a player and we enjoyed a lot of success before I earned my move to England. I’m also looking forward to learning off Liam O’Brien again – he is a really good coach, who I know from my time at Bohs.
“I know some of the players, especially James McPake. He has told me all about the club, its supporters and the massive potential that exists at the club. I can’t wait to get started and to get stuck into the challenge of helping Hibernian to improve on last season.”
Boss Fenlon revealed that Deegan had been on his shopping list ever since he was appointed Hibs’ manager in November 2011.
Fenlon said: “Gary is a player I’ve wanted to bring to Hibernian ever since I first came here to the football club. He is exactly the type of player and character, who will help to move the team forward. Gary is an honest, committed player, who is technically very good, but who also won’t get bullied in the middle of the park. He is a strong boy who will offer us something different in our midfield and he’s the type of player our supporters will take to.
“Gary knows exactly what I expect from him and he is the type of character, who won’t let you down.”
Deegan will be ineligible for tomorrow’ s SPL opener at Dundee United but will be available for the Edinburgh Derby and has been handed the number seven shirt.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
