Hibs legends farewell tour has me misty eyed but Stevenson and Hanlon decision CAN'T be rushed - Tam McManus

I'm getting heavy summer of 2000 vibes with all this chat about Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson potentially being cut free from Hibs at the end of the season. And I’ll admit it’s getting me just a little misty eyed.

Whether Nick Montgomery has made his mind up on the duo or not - and it’s a decision that cannot be rushed - it’s got me thinking back to when two similar stalwarts of the dressing room were suddenly no longer in our midst. Two footballing father figures to me. Yogi Hughes and Pat McGinlay.

Ironically my first ever start for Hibs coincided with what was the last game for both those Leith legends. It was a derby at Tynecastle in May 2000 and it must be the only time there was ever applause in a dressing room after a defeat to Hearts - because we knew those two giants had just played their last minutes for the club. There were tears shed, it felt like losing a part of the family. You’re talking about two guys that would have bled green and white, were fans’ favourites and were part of the furniture at Easter Road.

As a kid on the ground staff I thought they’d be around forever. Both were massive characters in the dressing room. Yogi in particular. He took a real interest in the young players and was huge in my development at Hibs.

Yogi was as rough and tumble as they come but he genuinely cared. He’d bawl at me in training but afterwards would make sure he explained why. He’d pull me aside and talk through things then say ‘if you can’t handle me shouting at you then how will you cope with 15-20,000 fans?’

Then there was Pat who many fans still say is one of the best players in the club’s history. A guy who just led by example every day. I’m sure Paul and Lewis are exactly the same now. These characters are