Martin Boyle has insisted he will continue to give his all for Premier Sports Cup finalists Hibs regardless of whether he is captain or not.
The striker had been wearing the armband when club captain Joe Newell was out injured over the longer term. New boss Marink Reedijk has come in and handed the skipper's duties to Felix Passlack in recent weeks.
Boyle accepts manager's decision
Boyle confirmed: “Yes, he pulled me and you have to accept it. I am not the manager of this football club and I don't make the decisions. The only thing I can do is let my football do the talking, which I have. I have been training hard and merited my start at Hampden and I have repaid him.”
“It didn't affect me one single bit. It didn't affect me when I was captain and it doesn't impact me now. It is completely irrelevant in my eyes. If I am asked to be the leader on the day or not then it is not going to change the type of character I am.”
“It is not going to change the person I am and it is not going to change my performances. Whoever leads us out leads us out. We have a good group and a good leadership group that is very experienced.”
Derby win sparks hope
There is a real buzz around Easter Road again after they booked their Hampden return against Rangers next month. Sunday's derby win over Hearts was massive. It was Reedijk's first victory with the club and it was also the first time the team had beaten Hearts at Hampden.
Boyle insisted: “It is huge. I am delighted for him. His tactics were spot on and so was the team he selected. Fair play to him, he has been brilliant since he came in. He has been really positive. Us players need to stand up to the occasion and to start getting better results.”
It also gives Hibs more than a glimmer of hope after their European exit left a lingering hangover which has seen them tumble down the league and cost David Gray his job.
Players take responsibility
Boyle accepted: “Yes, it has been tough. It has been tough for the fans and the managers. It has not been great. We know that and we take full responsibility as players. Results haven't been good enough. We have that belief that we can turn it around. We did that a few seasons ago, with the start we had. This could be the spark we need to reignite our season.”
The Australian international accepts it can't be one step forward and two steps back. They must use their Hampden win and back it up with a win at Aberdeen on Saturday evening.
Boyle stated: “It is not acceptable. I have been here on many occasions where it has been not acceptable to the levels we can reach. Hopefully, Sunday will be the spark that can take us on to better things. It is still early in the season. It will be a busy November and December. If we can get a run, like we did a couple of seasons ago, then we can still make it a successful season.”
Farewell tour ambitions
Boyle joked that he and Joe Newell are determined to make sure their farewell tour sees them go out on a high at Hibs. The pair, who are out of contract in the summer, both played starring roles in the derby win over Hearts that booked their place in next month's Premier Sports Cup final.
The veteran striker admitted that he spoke to Newell before their semi-final heroics and they were both determined to dig out one more Premier Sports gig. They got their wish as they set up a showcase with Derek McInnes's Rangers.
Listening to the 'Sunshine on Leith' celebrations again was something the Australian international cherished, as he thought days like that had passed him by. Fellow Hampden goal hero Jamie McGrath also feels he owes Hibs a Hampden debt. Last season, Boyle was told he was being released before the Leith club made a U-turn and gave him a 12-month extension until the summer.
Boyle said: “Joe and I were joking before the game that it was one last gig. Looks like we are going to get another one. Lots of the boys are still talking away. Everyone knows what this club means to myself and Joe. We show that passion day in and day out. We can celebrate memories like Hampden and if we can help the younger generation coming through then it is a good pathway for everybody at the club.”
The 33-year-old proved there is still plenty of life in his old legs. He netted a superb leveller for Hibs and was a constant thorn in the side of Hearts. Boyle, however, has form in League Cup semi-finals and it was second best to the hat-trick he netted against Rangers in the same competition back in 2021. A goal and a win over the same opposition in this season's final however would eclipse that.
Boyle insisted: “No, I think a hat-trick tops it. It was a bizarre first-half and it probably took everyone aback. It was a bit overwhelming. It was a critical point in the game to get us back level. To win the game, it is a nice feeling. I am happy contributing to this club. It is a special feeling and I am glad we can go back to another cup final.”
Illness before the semi-final
Hibs and Boyle left their city rivals feeling sick. It was much the way the Hibs' favourite had felt for a lot of the build-up to the game.
He admitted: “I just got out of my bed the day of the St Mirren game. I text the Doc to say, 'I feel all right,' but it was too late. I had been in my bed three days and it hasn't been pretty. With the sounds I heard and the sights I saw. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.”
“I tried to put myself through it on the Sunday but I was medically advised against it. I don't know what it was down to, a bug or food poisoning? When I came back in I trained with the young boys. I wanted to keep my head down and to keep working hard. Luckily the manager had faith in me to select me on Sunday for a big occasion after the boys did well midweek. I am thankful for that and I am happy to contribute.”
The Socceroo was desperate to be involved at Hampden even if it was a case of rolling back the years as more of a winger, off the left-hand side.
Boyle claimed: “I didn't expect that. I was told on Saturday morning that I was playing. As long as I am playing, I am happy. It was kind of a free role, you can stay high and wide out there and can hit them where it hurts. It was a bit more natural for me, where I could get on the ball and run at people. It was a nice feeling. I caused a few threats and managed to get a goal. I enjoyed it but it could change next week with the manager's tactics. Fair play to him on Sunday, he got it spot on.”
“I don't think anyone expected us to win. The run they had been on and in Europe, etc, while we are bottom of the league. Football is mental. We came here and had belief we could get a result. We did. I thought we stuck together and we will need to continue to do that over the whole season. Sunday doesn't paper over the cracks. We are bottom of the league and we have another massive test next week. Hopefully, we can start to climb that table and enjoy the cup final.”
