Magnificent gesture from Fletcher
By Tony Scholes
Saturday, 4th July 2009
Sometimes players leave clubs under a big black cloud and sometimes they go with the blessing of their former employers. The latter certainly is the case where Hibernian and Steven Fletcher are concerned.
Steven Fletcher
Fletcher signed for the Clarets on Wednesday in a £3 million deal, a record signing for our club. Hibs had previously been able to hold on to him but they agreed the deal and allowed him to move to the Premier League in England.
Not only did they allow him to leave but they did so with words of praise. Scott Lindsay, Chief Executive of the SPL club, said on his departure: "Everyone at Hibernian wishes Steven well in his career. He has been a terrific player for this club, and we are sure he will go on to prove his worth in the top league in England. He goes with our best wishes."
That says much for Fletcher's character and today it has been reported that he has made a donation of half his £250,000 signing on fee at Turf Moor to youth development at Hibs.
When Coyle said of his capture that he ticks all the boxes, given what's been said of him north of the border, and given this gesture from the player it is difficult to argue with anything that has been said of him.