Nick Montgomery has challenged his Hibs players to prove they want to be at Easter Road next season, admitting 'new homes' are beckoning for some.

The manager stated last week he is prioritising 'quality over quantity' with incoming players, but knows that will also involve a clearing of the decks at Easter Road. Not including academy prospects who have featured in the first-team setup this season, Hibs have 33 players on either loans or permanent contracts.

There are also nine players on loan at other clubs, with several likely to play no part in Montgomery's plans for next term. He is keen to explore whether facilitating sales can help increase his summer budget.

Montgomery is aware, however, that seeking to move so many individuals on at one time can provide its own challenges, yet it's clear he feels a clearout is essential. He's also framing the last four matches of the season as a chance for some to show that they deserve to be at Hibs moving forward.

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“There’s a lot of players contracted to the club who we have to find new homes for, which is not always easy," said the manager. "Some players out on loan have played, others have struggled for game time.

“They were signings made by previous managers for different reasons – some for development, some that haven’t worked out. It’s about looking at that situation and working internally to try and move some players on and use those funds to bring in a couple of quality signings.

“We’re working really hard to identify possible targets but every club’s main window is the summer, you’re recruiting to put together a squad for pre-season. That’s when the season really does start, in pre-season.

"There’s four games and it’s an opportunity for the players, as well, to show they want to be at Hibs next season – some that are contracted, some that aren’t."

A win over St Johnstone on Saturday somewhat eased the pressure on the manager's shoulders, after the board's open letter to fans declared results this season 'simply unacceptable' and stressed the need for significant improvement. Montgomery, though, is acutely aware that much more must be done to convince supporters that, long term, this team is heading in the right direction. And he's appealed directly to the fanbase heading into the final stretch of fixtures, insisting that while he fully understands their 'frustration', he believes the groundwork has been laid for better things.

“I understand their frustration, and that they’re upset about not making the top six," said Montgomery. "As a club, we understand that. We let ourselves and the fans down because there’s a lot of points we gave away that we shouldn’t have done.

“Ultimately, that put us in the position that we didn’t want to be in. Moving forward, it’s to be patient, look at the positives and keep believing.

“Right now, there’s four games left and we can finish the season strongly. We need the fans’ support.

“There’s a bright future for the club and nobody can doubt that with what’s happened on the field and the work off it – improvements to the stadium, training ground and working within the relationship with other clubs which will hopefully help in future to bring in more quality players that the fans can be proud of."