Hibs recruitment explained: Ian Gordon role, shift in focus, casting net wider, loan clauses

Hibs are no different. Throughout the month of January, in the winter transfer window, eight first-team players were integrated into the first-team squad – Rocky Bushiri, Harry Clarke, Ewan Henderson, Sylvester Jasper, Elias Melkersen, Demi Mitchell, Chris Mueller and Dylan Tait – while a further nine left on permanent or loan deals.

Five players were recruited for the soon-to-be-revived development squad and of the 13 new arrivals, 11 are below the age of 22.

This is relevant because it shows a clear model when it comes to new signings. Mueller, having just turned 25 in August, was the eldest incomer last month. Four of the departures were aged 26 or older.

While Hibs chiefs are keen to marry youth with experience, there has been more focus on building for the future than ever before.

Central to Hibs' recruitment business is the club’s footballing committee which includes among its members chief executive Ben Kensell, manager Shaun Maloney, and recruitment chief Ian Gordon.

The son of owner Ron has been working tirelessly on new targets and played a big part in the acquisition of Mueller as well as the capture of Norwegian prospect Melkersen.

Kensell explains how the committee operates.

"The football committee is the team that needs to pull together the targets aligned with Shaun's management team.

"I make sure that there is a governance to that process, to ensure that we've got the right players in, and that we've identified people in each position for every eventuality and then the discussion with agents and representative sits with me.

"We try to prioritise the targets that we're going after within the budgets that we have. If Shaun wants a player, we understand exactly how that player fits into the model.

"We do