Martin Boyle reveals new Hibs rule that's costing him dearly as winger puts faith in David Gray

Martin Boyle has had to dig deep after falling foul of his old pal David Gray’s strict new fine policy at Hibs.

But the Easter Road winger admits he still owes his former team mate big time for showing the trust to allow him to do his thing on the park. Boyle has wasted no time repaying Gray after netting three goals across the new boss’ first two competitive games in charge and looked back to his best as Hibs thrashed Elgin 5-0 and Queen’s Park 5-1. The 31-year-old Aussie ace goes back nine years with the man he has called mate, captain, coach and now gaffer. And it’s not just on the park he’s proving to be a valuable asset.

Boyle said: “When he got the job I asked what I was to call him - is it Dave or gaffer? Since then there’s been a fine sheet introduced that if you call him Dave or mate you get fined a tenner! I’ve paid out quite a bit in the last month!

“The fine system is in and his demands are there and we’re all listening and striving in the direction he wants to go in and hopefully we can keep doing that. He’s been through it all, he’s been through what I’ve been through and we’ve been here pretty much the same time.

“He’s taken that step, which is perfect and the trust he has in me and the trust I have in him - he is getting the best out of me and I’m always grateful to him. He will be a great manager I’ve no doubt about that.”

Boyle has played under eight managers in his time in Leith but he insists nobody understands the club better than Gray. Asked what’s he’s done to put his own stamp on things, Boyle said: ”I think it's the standards, what it means to play for this club.

“He's very demanding, he's driven and very respected around here. He's got a game plan and he has that style of play where he likes