Hibs executive chairman Ron Gordon says it was important they ensured Josh Doig has the best chance to make a long career for himself.
The left-back left Easter Road for a seven-figure fee earlier this summer, joining Serie A side Hellas Verona after two full seasons at senior Hibs level. Doig has had constant speculation follow him and Gordon was keen to ensure he didn't get lost in the English football cycle. Italy was earmarked as an exciting place for the Scotland youth international to go, and it is why a deal accelerated.
Gordon told the Edinburgh Evening News : "Josh is a perfect example of, not just a transactional thing, but identifying the right club for a Hibs player, and not just sending him to Millwall or some second-rate Championship or League One team down south where he is just one of many. Josh is playing in Serie A.
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"He will be playing against Milan, Inter, Napoli, he'll be learning from some of the traditional defensive maestros in football. This is a growth opportunity.
"My thinking, and the goal with Josh was, where would be the best place for him? So we went looking in Italy. Maybe some will stay at Hibs, but for others we want to be the pathway club for them.
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"One of the things we had in our plan was to be a players' club; to really care for them, nurture them, and develop them. And we have that philosophy at HTC. All these things are positive.”
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