Hibs Want To Be Able To Train On Grass No Matter The Weather

Despite being one of the better off clubs in terms of training facilities affected by the weather, Hibs manager John Hughes is looking to get undersoill heating installed at their training centre in East Mains.  Hibs opened a new £5 million facility, just outside Edinburgh, just over two years ago and Hughes plans to use his persuasive powers on chairman Rod Petrie to invest in undersoil heating. Manager Hughes has described the indoor pitches at the complex as a "godsend" as the arctic weather has wreaked havoc with both fixtures and training schedules at clubs throughout Scotland.  Hughes said: "We've trained with a squad of 20-22. We can put 10 in the gymnasium, do all the bike stuff, spin classes, do other circuits, weights, for a good 45 minutes. The other ones go in that barn for 45 minutes and then we just switch them over. It'd be great to have some undersoil heating and get on a pitch, 11 v 11. That's my message to my chairman, my Christmas present."

Hibs' Easter Road ground has undersoil heating as part of the requirements to stay in the SPL which means tomorrow’s Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Irvine Meadow should go on. Meadow’smanager is bracing himself to face a host of star names. Chris Strain admits Anthony Stokes in particular is "one to fear", with the forward having scored seven goals in the last five games. Strain said: "He is on fire at the moment and he is the one we really fear. Stokes and Liam Miller, in particular, are really special players. They have played in the Premier League in England and will obviously have a lot of experience." Several ties have already had to be cancelled due to the weather but Strain expects his side's game to go ahead, saying a postponement at this stage would be a crushing blow for his players. He said: "It's looking favourable that it will go ahead. It would be a major disappointment for the lads if it didn't. Everyone is really looking forward to it. We are keeping in touch with Hibs and, at the moment, there doesn't seem to be any danger of it being off."