Lewis Stevenson has been at Hibs long enough to know that a bottom six finish isn't good enough.
And the long-serving left back is targeting Europe, a Scottish Cup final and derby wins next season after missing out on all three last term.
Successive defeats to rivals Hearts in as many weeks saw the Hibees condemned to the bottom half of the Premiership and yet another Hampden derby defeat in the semi-finals.
Those results proved to be the final nail in Shaun Maloney’s coffin, as the former Celtic midfielder and Belgium coach was sacked despite being in the Easter Road hotseat for just four months.
He’s since been replaced by Lee Johnson, and his squad reported back for pre-season training at East Mains yesterday.
Better will be expected by owner Ron Gordon, and Stevenson has laid out three targets for the upcoming campaign, determined to make up for the disappointments of 2021/22.
“For a club like Hibs, it’s not good enough to be in the bottom six," he said.
"It was a strange season as we were so close to a cup final, so close to winning a cup and so close to achieving the top six as well.
"These little margins can make a massive difference, especially in this league where there’s not much between the teams.
“This season we want to get European football, we want a good run in the cup by getting one step further than we did last year. We want to achieve some big derby wins and wins against the Old Firm are always a highlight.
"I’m getting to the later stages of my career, and I want to make the most of it. I’ve been enjoying it as much as I ever have, and I’ve got nothing to lose now so I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
“It seems really positive, and it's been really good to get to work.
Johnson is the 12th permanent Hibs manager Stevenson will have played under, so change at the top is nothing new to the 34-year-old.
The pre-season running doesn't get any easier, but Stevenson’s approach remains the same.
"When a new manager comes in you have to be yourself, you can’t change your ways,” he told the club’s website.
"We need to stick together as a team and give it everything we’ve got, and it will stand us in good stead.”
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