Pundit Mark Wilson has slammed Hibs for their Premier Sports Cup humiliation - branding the Easter Road club's situation "a shambles."
The Hibees drew 1-1 with Morton on Wednesday night and it had looked as if their hopes of winning the group and qualifying for the last 16 hinged on Clyde beating Falkirk this weekend. But it emerged on Thursday morning that they had fielded an ineligible player, and were hit with sanctions after an SPFL hearing.
The player in question was Rocky Burshiri, who was suspended after he had previously picked up two bookings. The governing body recorded the result as a 3-0 Morton win, meaning Hibs dropped onto six points and can now no longer qualify.
It was good news for the Ton who can now win the group provided they beat Bonnyrigg Rose and Falkirk fail to take anything against Clyde. But it's an embarrassing situation for Hibs and former Celtic defender Wilson, speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, has let rip at the Easter Road side.
Stranraer were hit with a similar reprimand for fielding suspended Paul Woods. Former Celtic defender Wilson insists it's understandable from a lower league part-time side - but reckons it's a "shambles" for a Premiership team.
He said: "This is a shambles. A club the size of Hibs, this should never happen. You can understand a smaller club making a mistake like this - and Stranraer have been pulled up for something similar - but there is no way Hibs should be in this situation
"I would exonerate the manager. He has a million things going on. He's bringing in players, he's trying to get his team sorted out. He is relying on the club secretary or other officials to tell him which players are available.
"A club of Hibs' size? It's shocking. They're out of the competition before their rivals have even started in it so that's got to hurt the fans too. The culture at this club seems to be all wrong.
"When Jack Ross was there things seemed to be in good shape then he was gone. Shaun Maloney came in and he was gone. Now the new manager has got a lot of work to do."
READ NEXT
