Hibs release out of contract trio but door left open for Steven Whittaker return

Hibs players Adam Bogdan, Steven Whittaker and Vykintas Slivka will leave Easter Road when their contracts expire in June, the club has confirmed.

The trio are the only first team players who are out of contract and will be followed out the exit door by development squad members Jack Hodge, Kosovar Sadiki and Matthew Yates.

The door has been left open, however, for the return of Whittaker ,with the club stating: “Hibernian hope there will be an opportunity for Steven to return in the future in some capacity, and he is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues.”

Whittaker, who turns 36 next month and is currently studying towards his coaching A licence, started his career at Hibs back in 2002, winning a League Cup winners’ medal before making a move to Rangers, where he collected eight domestic trophies including three league titles.

He then transferred south to Norwich City, where he won a Championship play-off final, as well as making 41 appearances in the English Premier League, before returning to Easter Road in 2017.

Sporting Director Graeme Mathie added: “Steven is someone whose development the club takes real pride in.

“One of a number of young players who emerged from the Academy at the same time and captured the imagination, he is a real role model and example of what can be achieved when you dedicate yourself to your profession.

“He has been a positive, strong influence on team-mates – young and experienced alike. Given his association with the club over a long period of time, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back at Easter Road in some capacity in the future.”

Bogdan re-joined Hibs for a second time in November on an initial short-term contract that was extended until the end of the season. However, the Hungarian international failed to make a first-team appearance on his return.

“Adam is someone I hold in similar regard,” Mathie said. “His pedigree speaks for itself, but his human qualities are what stand out. Like Steven, he is another who was always happy to spend time passing on advice to younger players looking to make their way in the game.”

Slivka, meanwhile, joined the club in the summer of 2017 from Juventus and solidified his spot in the Lithuanian international set-up in the process. He totalled 67 appearances for Hibs, scoring three goals, including two memorable strikes against Rangers and Celtic.

Mathie added: “Vykintas is someone who came to Easter Road as a young player, looking to establish himself as a first-team player after spending his formative years in the Juventus youth system.

“We’re delighted that, over the course of time, he’s become an international regular and enjoyed some great moments in a Hibs shirt.

“I’m sure the supporters will join me in thanking them for their contributions to Hibernian and we wish them all the best for the future.

“Similarly, we thank Jack, Kosovar and Matthew for their efforts. We hope they’ve been able to benefit from their time within our set-up and that they apply the lessons learned for whatever comes next in their careers.”

The news of the departures follows on from the confirmation that loanees Greg Docherty, Jason Naismith, Marc McNulty and Stephane Omeonga have all returned to their parent clubs following the conclusion of season 2019-20.