Season 1997–98 was an unqualified disaster for Hibs, as the club was relegated to the First Division by finishing bottom of the Premier Division. There was also disappointment in the cup competitions, as the club were beaten by First Division club Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, and Dundee United in the League Cup. Manager Jim Duffy was sacked and replaced by Alex McLeish midway through the season.
League season Hibs got off to a good start to the season, winning 2–1 against Celtic on the opening day, with Chic Charnley scoring a memorable winning goal. The season "rapidly turned into a nightmare", however. With the club four points adrift at the bottom of the league, manager Jim Duffy was sacked after a 6–2 defeat by Motherwell. Alex McLeish was hired as Duffy's replacement, but he was unable to save the club from relegation to the First Division.
Results
Final table
Scottish League Cup
Results
Scottish Cup
Results
Transfers
Players in
PlayerFromFee Tony RougierRaith Rovers£250,000 Jean-Marc Adjovi-BoccoRC LensFree Olafur GottskalkssonKeflavik£200,000 Stephen CrawfordMillwall£360,000 Justin SkinnerBristol RoversFree Latapy?
Players out
PlayerToFee Joe McLaughlinClydebankFree Graeme LoveAyr UnitedFree Thorsten SchmuggeFree Jim LeightonAberdeenFree Keith WrightRaith RoversFree Ian CameronRaith RoversFree Darren JacksonCeltic£1,500,000 Chic CharnleyPartick ThistleFree Greg MillerLivingstonNominal fee Lee PowerAyr UnitedFree Brian GrantDundeeFree
Loans in
PlayerFrom Andy WalkerSheffield United Bryan GunnNorwich City Grant BrebnerManchester United
Loans out
PlayerTo John MartinBerwick Rangers Eric PatonStenhousemuir Ian McDonaldStenhousemuir
Player stats
During the 1997–98 season, Hibs used 32 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.
See also List of Hibernian F.C. seasons
Notes
External links Hibernian 1997/1998 results and fixtures , Soccerbase