Ron Gordon reacts to Hibs Premier Sports Cup exit and Rocky Bushiri admin error

Ron Gordon says something 'fell through the cracks' at Hibs as the club were fined and knocked out the Premier Sports Cup for fielding an ineligible player.

The 2021 finalists already had their progression hopes from Group D hanging by a thread after losing to League One club Falkirk and dropping two points against Championship side Morton on Wednesday. Seven points and big favours may have been enough to see them progress to the last 16 narrowly but they're now down to six after being handed a 3-0 loss for the Morton match. Rocky Bushiri played when he was supposed to be suspended and it means progress is impossible.

Executive chairman Gordon, speaking to Down the Slope and other Hibs fan media channels, says it was an honest error: "The ops department made a boo-boo. Something fell through the cracks. It's a bit of a shame and we are rectifying it. But I look at the improvements we have made. That is an area where I think we have upgraded as I think our ops department is better.

"In this case they made a mistake. I think they feel terrible but if there is a consolation, it's that it doesn't affect anything. It would have been really bad if we had won. Then we would have been in a bad situation.

"I can assure you it won't happen again. The club is buttoned up in many ways but people make mistakes. That was one."

An SPFL statement read: "The Club was reprimanded and warned as to future conduct. Hibernian’s Premier Sports Cup match v Morton will be recorded as a 3-0 victory for Morton and a fine of £5,000, of which £4,000 is suspended until 30 June 2023 pending any further breaches of SPFL Player Regulations."