Well done to Hibs for doing what they can for this young fan. On this blog, I’ve often talked about the frustrations of supporting a smaller league, one without the resources of the massive clubs in England, Italy or Spain. But there’s an upside too, and one I don’t talk about enough. In Scotland, even in the top flight, all football is community football. The supporter bases (not including the Old Firm, of course, who compete with just about anyone) are relatively small, but they are tight-knit, and for the most part very local. Nice to see a club doing what they can, really a pretty small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but a huge deal to a sick kid who can hopefully get some distraction and enjoyment from watching a good game of football.

Mixu Paatelainen is a Hibs legend, having scored 39 goals for the Edinburgh side, including most notably a hat trick in a 6-2 rout of rivals Hearts in 2000. He’s had an impressive coaching career, first leading Cowdenbeath to their first title in 67 years, then moving on to a successful run at Finnish club TPS, who just finished their season in third place, their highest table place in a decade.

I have to say, this is a brilliant signing for Hibs. Not only is Mixu a proven manager, but he will excite the Hibs support more than maybe any other choice. He is a Hibee, and in times of crisis, keeping the stands filled is important. Hibernian may not be in quite the depth of trouble that crosstown Hearts find themselves, but one win in twelve for an Edinburgh side is a crisis in my book. He also has some experience in Easter Road’s offices, having worked in youth development there. It’s a perfect signing to my mind.

Mixu starts his Hibs career this Saturday, hosting my own Inverness Caley Thistle in the Scottish Cup. Caley has been on a good run, especially striker Marius Niculae, and Hibs will need to shut the Romanian down as well as reach in and find some long-lost offense of their own. Of course, I’d prefer that his luck not begin until next week, but still, good luck to Mixu and Hibs in getting the ship righted at Easter Road.

There are developments involving the two highest-profile job openings in Scottish football, the Scotland and Hibs manager positions. First, at Hibernian, Paul Simpson seems to be the front-runner to take over the seat abandoned suddenly last month by John Collins. He was most recently at the helm of Preston North End, a shaky time at best, but that has been the only blip in an otherwise promising career. The only other serious contender seems to be Ranier Bonhof (again reminiscent of a Simpsons character, if a little more of a stretch). The German was formerly U-21 manager during the Berti Vogts era. Neither is exactly the quality of candidate that Hibs fans were hoping to replace Collins, who had his troubles, but who also brought Easter Road its first silverware in 15 years in last season’s league cup. Still, for a team who has won once in twelve matches and sit mid-table in the SPL, the options may be somewhat limited. Recent form aside, I agree with Brooks Mileson (possibly a first) that it’s one of the great jobs in Scottish football, and the good times will someday return.

On to the more important news, at least to me. Sources inside the SFA have apparently narrowed the list of candidates for the next Scotland manager down to a final four, and one name is making a surprise appearance: Tommy Burns. It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Burnsie on the list, because he has all the credentials. Time spent at an Old Firm side? Check. He played over 300 matches for Celtic and managed them, unfortunately during a Rangers-dominated period, and went on to become Celtic’s first team coach. National team experience? Check. He has 8 caps as a player, and was assistant manager under both Vogts and Smith. He has, like Simpson, had his stumbles as a manager, but overall he has the pedigree and I think he’d be a fine choice. More importantly, I don’t see him running for the hills at the first distant sound of a cash register, as the previous two managers have done. Better him than one of the young turks like Collins or McGhee, who just aren’t ready for a national post yet.

Besides, who better than Mr. Burns to keep Hampden the fortress we’ve come to expect of it? Three words – Release the hounds.

JC insists that there have been no offers for his services, though his sudden availability does put him a bit higher on a few lists. His former club Fulham may be in need of a manager soon, but it may be Scotland that has the best shot at him. He was already one of the top five bookie favorites for the job, and this has to raise him up. Mark McGhee may still be the top pick, and certainly is having a better time right now, but Collins is still being mentioned. In my opinion, neither has the proper experience, though.

I have to say, I was shocked to hear about Collins leaving Hibs. The timing is odd, considering his optimism just yesterday at the training center opening, and even though he may be telling the truth about not having any offers yet, one wonders whether the allure of either a Premier League or National team job didn’t factor into his decision.

Collins claims that the center is the best he’s ever seen, including his time at Fulham and Everton as a player. The facility includes five grass pitches, an outdoor artificial pitch, an indoor training pitch, players’ and coaches’ lounges, a state-of-the-art gym, pool, and video room. It’s a hugely significant move from Easter Road, which will now only be used on match days.

Whether this move can help Hibs out of their current slump in the league is questionable, but in the long term, it is this sort of investment that gives the second-tier clubs in Scotland hope of growing nearer to the level of the Old Firm. Hibs should be congratulated on their vision to spend these transfer funds on much-needed infrastructure rather than on players. A state of the art facility like this will only help get better players in the future, since one of the complaints of foreign players in Scotland is often the lack of world-class facilities.

This is, of course, great for Hibs. Fletcher is one of the best young strikers in Scotland, and isn’t far from earning his way onto the full national team. But aside from that, this is a great story for Scottish football. Fletcher came up through the Hibs youth academies, probably the best development program in the country. Now that he’s begun to reward all that investment and live up to his potential, there was a danger that he would jump ship, as so many others have, to the Old Firm or to England. Last year it was Scott Brown, who left Hibs for Celtic, and joined former Hibs Chris Killen and Gary Caldwell there. Hibs were also unable to hold onto Ivan Sproule, who danced off to Bristol City. If Scottish football is ever going to have a reliable second-tier, a group of teams outside of the Old Firm that can compete not only domestically but in Europe, teams like Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen are going to have to hold onto their young stars.

So, nice work to Fletcher on securing his long-term future at Hibs. I just hope he doesn’t celebrate by walking all over my Caley boys this weekend.